Innholdsfortegnelse for December 30, 2013 i Woman's Own

Best baby comeback Just weeks after giving birth, the Duchess of Cambridge, 31, made her return to the red carpet in this creation by Jenny Packham. Get reddy, set, go! Holly Willoughby, 32, looks her best when she makes the most of her curves and this dress is no exception. The fishtail hem and lace sleeves are super-flattering on her. Best thigh-high flash Being able to cover up and show enough flesh for maximum impact is no mean feat. Myleene Klass, 35, managed both. Best use of colour Whatever she wears, Helen Mirren, 68, never fails to impress us. This ruched gown with coral accessories looked great against her skintone. Best midi-length Kimberley Walsh, 32, showed you don’t need to have a floor-sweeping hemline to go glam. The sheer lace…

WOMAN'S OWN EXCLUSIVE PICS Since quitting Loose Women, Carol McGiffin has made the most of some much-needed time off with fiancé Mark Cassidy, 31. During a weekend in Paris recently, the pair couldn’t resist capturing every moment of the trip on camera. As our exclusive pictures show, the couple, who have been together for six years, looked more loved-up than ever as they took in some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks, including The Louvre museum and the famous Pont des Arts – aptly a spot where couples leave padlocks to symbolise their undying love for each other. But it wasn’t all sightseeing for Carol, 53, and Mark – who got engaged after he went down on bended knee during a winter holiday in Thailand back in 2008, but are…

My best friend Claire’s big, naughty chuckle came down the phone. ‘That’s some proposal!’ she was gasping. She was right… Clive, the man I’d been in love with for four years, had just phoned me at work to tell me he’d booked the register office for a surprise wedding on New Year’s Eve. It was mad and romantic and perfect Clive all rolled into one. It was November 2005 and it left me exactly seven weeks to organise everything else. But in the end I found a wine bar for our meal and a dressmaker to design a gorgeous winter white gown in a size 16, with sleeves to hide my bingo wings. ‘We both liked cake and gossip’ A shared ‘adventure’ I’d been a 14 when I’d first met…

From £4 .07 1 Cleanse The first step to flawless skin begins with a proper cleansing regime. Without it, your skin will look dull and is less able to soak up your anti-ageing cream. Use L’Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 15 Second Miracle Cleansing Oil, £7.99, to dislodge daily dirt, rinse, then follow with a balm cleanser to delve deep into pores. The Body Shop Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter (right), £12, leaves skin strokeably soft. 2 Exfoliate When dead skin cells build up, they stop your complexion from reflecting the light evenly, which gives a flat, lacklustre appearance – an instant way to put on years. Twice a week, treat your face to a gentle exfoliator. Kiko Anti-Age Peeling, £6.99, kikocosmetics.co.uk, turns into a serum as you massage it in for…

Fraud is on the up with 230,000 cases reported in the 12 months from June 2012 – a 21% rise on the previous period. And it’s costing the economy an estimated £52 billion a year. But with fraudsters adopting new tactics, it’s increasingly difficult for the police and the Government to clamp down on this worrying and dangerous crime. Here we reveal the latest scams to help you keep safe in 2014. It doesn’t make easy reading. ON THE ROAD Picture the scene. You’re on your way home from work and as you wait at a junction to pull on to a main road, a driver coming down flashes to let you out. You wave to say thank you and begin to pull out. But then wham, you’re hit by…

1 Not so sweet The artificial sweetener sorbitol – found in sweets, soft drinks and sugar-free gum – can trigger wind, bloating and diarrhoea. Check labels, especially if you regularly experience tummy problems. 2 Anyone for nettles? Traditionally used as a diuretic, nettles are great for ridding your body of excess water. Try Nettle Leaf Capsules (£12.99 for 50), from Holland & Barrett. Either take them orally or open them up and add to hot water to create your own nettle tea, which can prevent bloating caused by water retention. Don’t worry, they don’t sting! 3 Chew your food more On average, we chew our food just six times before swallowing, and two out of three of us admit to finishing a meal in less than 10 minutes. Chewing too…

Just £5 perhead Brie & sweet onion tarts SERVES 6 PREP TIME 10 MINS COOKING TIME 40 MINS, PLUS COOLING YOU WILL NEED ◆ 2tbsp olive oil ◆ 3 large sweet onions, peeled and thinly sliced ◆ a few sprigs of thyme, leaves only ◆ 375g ready-rolled puff pastry ◆ 1 egg, beaten ◆ 2tbsp redcurrant jelly ◆ 200g firm Brie, sliced ◆ 100g pack winter salad leaves FOR THE DRESSING ◆ 2tsp Dijon mustard ◆ 3tbsp olive oil ◆ 2tbsp lemon juice ◆ pinch of sugar HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 190°C/Gas 5. Add the olive oil, onions and most of the thyme to a large pan. Gently cook over a low heat for about 30-40 mins until very soft and light golden. Season and…

We’ve partied all over the world Stuffing my hands deep into my jacket pockets, I watched my boyfriend Andrew run down the beach in his trunks. ‘You’re crazy!’ I laughed, as he leapt into the chilly water. It was New Year’s Day 2010 and we were coming to the end of a wonderful week at my aunt and uncle’s home in Portugal. To celebrate, we’d released Chinese lanterns and now Andrew was taking his first swim of the year in the freezing cold. New destinations We’d never gone away at this time of year before and I loved being somewhere new, escaping the packed pubs and overpriced restaurants we’d left back home in Yeadon, Leeds. Then I had a thought. ‘Why don’t we go away every New Year?’ I suggested.…

Welcome to 2014! The good news is that while 2013 has been a year of highs and lows – with no middle ground – by the end of this coming year life will be settling into an easier routine for us all – even celebs. The upheaval of the past 12 months has been caused by the fact we’re all going through a four-year period of intense change. It’s all because of the slow-moving planets Uranus (in Aries) and Pluto (in Capricorn) who keep squaring up against one another, creating chaos, drama and unexpected about-faces. Although spring will be stressful for some, the year gets easier and easier bringing fun for everyone. As it ends, we’ll be past the worst of the planetary chaos and, thankfully, through the darkest depths…

Celebrate in style Don’t fancy seeing in the New Year quietly? Then join in with a million others for the biggest free party in Europe. Two kilometres of Strasse des 17 Juni from the Brandenburg Gate to the Victory Column throb to live music, party tents and laser shows, culminating in a jaw-dropping fireworks display when the bells chime midnight (see berlin.de for info). But before the party gets going, head to the Vogelweide Tyrolean restaurant (Bayerische Strasse 32) for hearty traditional dishes like duck with red cabbage or Bavarian meatloaf for the price of pub grub back home. Or for more casual dining (or as casual as you can be eating under Sistine Chapel-like frescoes), the 12 Apostel on Georgenstrasse serves huge wood-fired pizzas. Room for dessert? The Opernpalais…

He was the lead singer of ’80s pop sensation Bros and has gone on to forge a successful solo career for himself, including a residency at the iconic Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He’s even swapping the microphone for dancing shoes to take part in the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special. But how much do we really know about Matt, 45? Woman’s Own sat him down to talk scotch, weeping at TV shows and his dreams of working with animals… What can’t you leave the house without? I have a custom-made pocket knife that I take with me everywhere. It’s made from a mammoth tooth and it has sapphires on it – it’s the only one like it in the world, so it’s pretty special to me. I use it…

What a pair! Yes, Heidi Klum, 40, we know you have an amazing figure, but do we really need to see so much of it? We hope she’s securely taped into that plunging dress! Red alert She’s usually so stylish and effortlessly elegant, but Aussie actress Cate Blanchett, 44, looks like an extra from Thriller in this futuristic sequinned number Shocking stockings No, this isn’t a stage costume. This is Madonna, 55, on the red carpet. Did she forget to put a skirt on with that blazer? Time to shape up Where’s your figure disappeared to, Kelly Brook? The flouncy sleeves and peplum top do little to show off the 34-year-old’s hourglass shape Power meltdown Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 26, channels ’80s power dressing in a crazy colour-block suit and aggressive hair…

WOMAN'S OWN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS ‘I’m covered in bruises’ The Saturdays’ Rochelle Humes and dance partner Ian Waite are doing the salsa. Rochelle, 24, is married to JLS’s Marvin. They have a baby, Alaia-Mai Let’s talk blisters and aching bits – has the training been tough? Oh my goodness, I am covered in bruises! You really do put your body through it. Honestly, I take my hat off to the people who do the competition all the time. I see them in a totally different light now I’ve done it. What has been the hardest bit for you so far ? The dance! Ian didn’t cut me any slack. Apparently the salsa is one of those dances all the pros hate the most because the girl is the most exposed. The…

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My son Daniel was getting married and I wanted to lose weight for the wedding. I didn’t want to look fat in the photos – it was the push I needed. I have typical middle-aged spread, and I had the attitude that one more biscuit won’t make much of a difference. I cooked healthy meals, but portion control was a problem. I’d eat everything on my plate without even thinking. And I was worried about my health as my knees ached and I often felt lethargic. I also wanted to be able to wear nicer clothes. I lived in black trousers and baggy T-shirts that covered me up. As soon as my son told me he was getting married, I turned to my husband and said, ‘Right, we’re going on…

Friend crisis A few days ago, my best friend’s husband told her he’d been having an affair for ages and their marriage was over. Even though I had a house full of relatives in the run-up to Christmas, I spoke to her for hours on end and she’s still calling me non-stop! I feel sorry for her, but I can’t keep doing this day in and day out. How can I get her to see a counsellor? Kym, 39, Lancaster I’m sorry to hear you’ve been so overloaded with helping your friend. However, as she’s calling you so much, I agree that she needs more than a mate right now. What she should urgently get is professional support to help her during this crisis. Offer to do a little of…

Whenever I’m in a garden shearing a rose bush or planting some beautiful begonias, I’m at my most content. Aged 48, I’ve never felt so fit, healthy and happy. But the truth is, it’s been a tough journey to get this point. And when I tell you the secret behind my new life, you’ll hardly believe it… The discovery It was March 2011 when I found the lump. I was a single mum working as a hypno-psychotherapist. One night, after putting my children, Fin, then eight, and Freya, six, to bed, I settled down to watch TV. An episode of Embarrassing Bodies came on with a section on how to check your breasts. I gave it a go and, to my horror, felt a solid, hard mass on the left…

Money myths Pension savings are best for retirement TRUE A workplace pension, where your company matches what you put in, is one of the best ways to save for retirement. You’re getting free money and benefitting from not paying any tax on the cash you stash. If you’re in your mid-forties or older you could use an ISA allowance, which is up to £11,520, to save towards your retirement. Darius McDermott, of Chelsea Financial Services, explains that while pension is taxed at retirement age, an ISA is not. So if you are starting your retirement saving later in life, an ISA may be a better idea in the long run. Your financial detox TO DO LIST ◆ SORT PAPERWORK Find and organise the past 12 months of bank and credit…

Just for FUN! Turn to page 58 for the answers CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows SUBSCRIBE FROM £11 .99 – SAVE UP TO 13%* ◆ Enjoy home delivery each week ◆ A great gift idea ◆ Never miss an issue Subscribe now at womansownsubs.co.uk/12L or call 0844 848 0848 quoting code 12L *When you subscribe via direct debit or two-year c/cc. Offer open to UK subscribers only. Offer closes 31 December 2014. Quick & Easy If you really don’t have much time to spare, give your brain a break with one of these See if you can solve these in 10 minutes SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each 3x2 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 6 WORDSEARCH…

£4 MILLION WON DAILY! Whether you’re a bingo fan or a novice, you’ll find something you’ll love at Woman’s Own Bingo. There are more than 100 games to try, to suit every pocket, and the friendly chat rooms make it even more fun. womansown-bingo.co.uk I’ve always enjoyed a game of bingo. Ever since my girls were young, I’ve played most Thursdays at my local social club and I often have a win or two. But it was my daughter Stefanie who first told me about Woman’s Own Bingo. ‘I think you’d really enjoy this, Mum,’ she said as we were chatting one afternoon over a cuppa. ‘It’s got bingo games and slots – why don’t you try it out?’ I wasn’t sure as I’d never played online before, but I…

As one of TV’s most famous mediums, Sally Morgan has a whole host of celeb fans to her name. And it’s no wonder the stars come flocking to her live shows and readings – for despite the sceptics, Sally, 62, has the ability to scare the living daylights out of people with her supposed connection to the afterlife and ability to predict the future. Luckily, as we discover, Sally’s not the least bit scary. She is, in fact, a right good laugh! You’ve ‘read’ loads of celebrities… who’s been the biggest? Oh love, you couldn’t say one is more famous than the other, you’d upset them! You see, a lot of these celebrities I talk to think they’re A-list, if you get my meaning. Diana, Princess of Wales, is no…

SO EMOTIONAL Sharon Osbourne appeared tired and overwhelmed after leaving the X Factor final after-party. Mrs O, 61, emerged from the star-studded bash – where she was celebrating her act Sam Bailey being crowned the 2013 winner – looking emotional, with smudged make-up and tears rolling down her face. Pricey reunion Lewis Hamilton, 28, is apparently so desperate to get back with Nicole Scherzinger, 35, that he’s planning to spend £100,000 to win her back this Christmas. The Formula 1 driver is said to be planning to buy his on/off girlfriend of seven years a range of expensive presents to give to her when she joins him in Switzerland for the festive period, including a custom-made Tiffany & Co diamond bracelet worth £60,000 and Christian Louboutin shoes worth £2,300. A…

We all know it, don’t we? No sooner have we finally got through Christmas than the conversation turns… ‘So what are you doing for New Year?’ Talk of parties, fancydress dos, lock-ins at your local, balloons, banners, secret kisses and mistletoe. Oh, what fun! After being cooped up with your family for days on end, what better excuse to blow away the cobwebs and have a kneesup. ‘New Year is brilliant,’ says Carla Gibson, 33, a PR executive from South London. ‘My husband and I go out and sometimes we’ll hit the town with friends or, if we don’t fancy the crowds, we’ll throw a big dinner party at home, play games and have dancing before watching the London fireworks on the TV. It’s the one night of the year…

Reader rated LUCY ATIM, 33, FROM MILTON KEYNES ‘These Savoir leggings from Isme have a tummy-control mesh panel that flattens and smooths my tum – making them just perfect for keeping everything in shape after all the festive sweet treats!’ Style steal Fancy treating yourself without splashing out? Then look no further than the latest looks from Very. These tops are a steal at £29, but there’s a whole lot more to choose from at the same price. Definitely worth picking up a couple of pieces to update your wardrobe! 3 of the best smart biker jackets This wardrobe essential now comes in a range of colours Bag yourself a bag Fancy a piece of designer arm candy? For your chance to win one of two stylish Vanilla Paris Special…

How it works This diet is a healthy eating plan packed with tasty unprocessed food that will fill you up and is naturally low in calories. It also allows you to have a glass of wine every day and still lose 1-2lb a week! ◆ Take your pick from the healthy breakfasts, lunches and dinners daily ◆ With your dinner, have a 150ml glass of red wine (the healthiest choice). If you don’t like red, you can have white instead, or opt for a 50ml serving of gin, vodka or other spirit with a diet mixer ◆ If you’re still hungry, snack on some fresh fruit (not bananas) or vegetable crudités with salsa or tzatziki BREAK FASTS ◆ 1 slice of seeded toast spread with cranberry and orange compote (make…

The latest wonder fruit! Have you heard of garcinia? It has been used for centuries in Asian cookery and medicine but is now making headlines for its weight-loss properties. Studies have shown that its rind contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which can stimulate fat burning. ‘It works on your insulin levels, controlling glucose, so acts as an appetite suppressant,’ says Alex Thompson, nutritionist at Holland & Barrett. Garcinia Cambogia Complex (£24.99 for 60 capsules, Holland & Barrett). 3 step fix Happy feet A little preparation before a night of abuse in your favourite high heels can help to minimise damage. ◆ DO THIS Corns and calluses are the skin’s way of protecting itself from pressure. You need to moisturise every night with a foot cream to stop the skin cells drying…

My husband, Craig, looked worried but his words didn’t make any sense. ‘What do you mean, it’s disappearing?’ I asked. How could a testicle vanish? He shrugged. ‘It’s like it’s shrinking away,’ he said. I was a nurse in an old people’s home and I’d urged Craig, 29, to see the doctor when he’d been having some discomfort down below, but his GP hadn’t been able to find anything wrong. Surely this wasn’t right though? But amazingly, before we could do anything about it, Craig’s vanishing right testicle started to grow back! It was November 2001, and I insisted he went back to see the doctor. This time though, Craig was referred to the hospital for tests. ‘Are you worried?’ I asked him. He shook his head. ‘No, I’ll be…

Many mums-tobe fear Down’s syndrome and are scared of how they will cope. It’s a concern my dear friend Hayley Goleniowska, 43, understands and why she’s now doing all she can to change that view. And there’s one special little girl who inspires her crusade – her seven-year-old daughter, Natalia, who she’s nicknamed Natty. She was diagnosed with the condition at birth, in December 2006. At the time, Hayley and her husband, Bob, then 53, were devastated. They already had an older daughter, Mia, then two, but had suffered five traumatic miscarriages trying to conceive Natty. They had no idea how having a child with Down’s syndrome would impact on them. I met Hayley in the summer of 2008 in a cafe in our home town of Truro, Cornwall. I…

It’s free to join and so easy to become a member When I first read about Quidco on a consumer blog in 2009, it sounded like a great way to save money. Colin and I opened an account together – all we had to do was register our email address and bank details. We made savings straight away – one of the first was by changing our car insurance. The cheapest quote on the Quidco website was just £250. And we got £40 cashback, too! Now we use Quidco all the time. I travel a lot for work and book all my hotels via the site – earning up to 6% cashback each time. And in February, Colin and I went to South Africa – booking our hotels through Quidco…

A different celebration Some years ago on Christmas Day, my wife and I decided to get away from it all. We packed sandwiches, crisps, cake, flasks of coffee and a box of crackers and headed to Dartmoor. We parked the car in a remote spot on the moor, where you could see nothing but rolling hills stretching into the horizon. It was a beautiful day, misty and bright. That Christmas was one of our best ever and we’ll treasure the memory forever. DW Shattock, Bristol Loose lipped Regarding the letter about Loose Women from Jennifer Shelden [29 November], I have to say I feel the opposite. I miss Carol and Denise, and can’t stand Kaye. Can she just let someone else talk? If she’s presenting, I always switch over! Kathie…

Berry Christmas Mary Berry won’t do too well with Christmas pressies this year – or any year for that matter. The Bake Off legend, 78, has revealed that her hubby doesn’t buy her gifts on the big day, but rather issues her with an IOU. ‘He always does that, because then, when you’re on holiday, you’ve got time to buy something nice,’ she said. EYE EYE SUGAR Lord Sugar’s planning an extra special gift for his mate and Apprentice sidekick Nick Hewer’s 70th birthday in February – he’s getting him surgery on his eyes. ‘God bless him,’ says Nick. ‘He’s a very generous man. He said to me, ‘I’ll tell you what I’m doing. I’m getting your eyes done. Get the bags removed.’ He insisted it’ll knock 10 years off...’…