Innholdsfortegnelse for 23-jun-14 i Woman's Own

Letting her hair down, Nigella Lawson shows she’s finally put her past troubles behind her by partying with pals at a recent charity gala. The TV cook was looking fab in a gorgeous midnight navy dress as she mingled with other celebrities. After her very public marriage breakdown and courtroom drugs confession, it’s good to see her back out enjoying herself. And with new figures showing her TV company made £2.85 million last year – up on the previous year’s total. It seems she really has got something to smile about! Join us online Head to our fabulous website, womansown.co.uk , to get all the latest celeb gossip, great competitions and deals, plus beauty, fashion, easy recipes and health tips.…

Susanna Reid, 43, has come under fire amid rumours that Good Morning Britain is set to be axed following plummeting viewing figures. ‘Personally, I find Susanna Reid irritating, arrogant and full of herself,’ one disgruntled viewer wrote online, while another added, ‘She is one of the most false and patronising people on TV.’ The news came in the same week that bookmakers slashed odds of the show being axed before the end of the year from 20/1 to 3/1 after it failed to pull in viewers during its first month on air. At one point over the past month an average of just 270,000 were tuning into the show compared to 1.17 million for its BBC rival. A huge mistake And according to an insider, the…

Forget romance! Loved-up couples are no longer strolling along the beach hand-in-hand or jetting off on cosy city breaks. Now holidays seem more often to be about escaping from your other half for some hard-earned me-time! In fact more Brits than ever before are opting to travel alone. New research* shows 27% of those in a live-in relationship ditched their loved one to go away in the past year. Yet in comparison, 10 years ago, just 10% admitted heading off on a solo break. The top reason is to spend quality time with friends, while others head off alone to indulge in a hobby their partner has no interest in. And 13% of couples took trips at different times due to work commitments. Happily married Coleen Rooney knows all about…

Sunscreen lowdown UVA Longwave rays cause your skin to tan, age and wrinkle UVB These shortwave rays are the ones responsible for sunburn 1 Best for… sensitiveskin Eucerin Sun Allergy Protection Sun Creme-Gel SPF50, £19, is free from perfumes and preservatives and helps to boost the body’s own defence against rash-causing sun allergies with powerful antioxidants, while the soothing licorice extract calms any existing irritation. 2 Best for… swimmers Don’t put off that dip in the pool. Garnier Ambre Solaire Wet Skin Protective Body Spray, £14.29, provides an instant sun shield for wet bodies, so you don’t have to dry off before you reapply. How? Clever water-repelling ingredients stop the sun filters diluting. It sprays on white so you can see where to apply but disappears when you rub it…

Getting her lively four-year-old twins dressed takes Karen the best part of an hour. Then comes the ordeal of breakfast. Their older sister, Willow, six, refuses to eat, while the twins throw their food all over the kitchen. You’d assume Karen, a well-preserved but clearly exhausted 58, is the children’s grandmother on babysitting duty. But actually these are her children, conceived using IVF and donor eggs. At an age when her friends are approaching retirement, Karen’s life consists of an endless round of feeding, bathing, playing and school runs. Yet far from being unusual, this set-up is increasingly common. The number of over-fifties giving birth has more than doubled in the past five years, with three children every week in Britain born to a mother in this age group. And…

In your 30s Healthwise, things are pretty good right now, although juggling family and work commitments can prove stressful. But this is a great time to build foundations for the future. Try... HIGH-INTENSITY INTERVAL TRAINING (HIIT) Based on varied short bursts of fast moves, HIIT sessions typically last just 20-30 minutes but trigger serious fitness gains – and weight loss. Perfect for the decade when time is rarely your own. It’s not for total exercise newbies, though, you need to be a bit fit to do HIIT. ‘But don’t be put off,’ says Jen George. Head of Fitness at London gym LAX St Botolph’s. ‘Most classes offer options of easier exercises. Stick to the version that’s sustainable for you and you’ll get fitter.’ Try LA20 at LA Fitness, twentyfour at…

Beef salad with mushroom toast SERVES 6 (AS A SHARING PLATTER ) PREP TIME 5 MINS COOKING TIME 10 MINS YOU WILL NEED 12 thin slices of ciabatta 2tbsp mushroom ketchup (or pesto) 2tbsp grated Parmesan, plus extra shavings to serve 200g thinly sliced rare roast beef, warm or cold 1 bag bistro-style salad 1 pot of cress FOR THE DRESSING 2-4tbsp sherry vinegar or lemon juice 6tbsp olive oil 2tbsp very finely chopped parsley, basil or pesto HOW TO DO IT 1 Preheat the grill. Toast the ciabatta on one side. Turn and toast lightly on the other side. Spread with the mushroom ketchup, sprinkle with Parmesan and toast until golden. 2 Arrange pieces of broken up mushroom toasts on a platter then top with beef slices, leaves and…

Imagine going into work and being reminded of the most heartbreaking time of your life. Do you think you would have the strength to keep going back? I don’t think I could. But that’s exactly what my younger sister Shirley Smith does every single day. Her son, Daniel, took his own life aged just 19, so she has made the brave commitment to save other suicidal youngsters by giving them the help and support they so desperately need. Back in 2005, Daniel seemed like any other teenager. He loved playing football and going to watch Newcastle United. He had a good job running a website and was always out with his friends. He loved his family and knew so many people in our village, Chester-le-Street, in County Durham. No one…

She’s been away from our screens for a while, but actress Leslie Ash, 54, is back with a bang, featuring in the latest line-up of stars competing in Celebrity MasterChef . We caught up with her as she lounged around the pool in Ibiza, enjoying a well-earned break from the kitchen, to talk food, getting advice from John Torode and Gregg Wallace, and why her two sons with hubby Lee Chapman, Joe, 25, and Max, 22, can’t watch her on the box… What made you want to do the show? I’ve always been a big fan. I’ve got two boys and growing up we always watched it together. There’s something about cookery shows that brought us together. MasterChef always encouraged me to cook – and in turn…

Holiday I haven’t been abroad for four years as I’ve been too busy, so my last time overseas was four years ago now. I went to Sousse in Tunisia with my best friend, but because we shared a room, the hotel thought that we were a couple and kept leaving rose petals and heart-shaped towels in the bathroom for us. Kiss It was with my two-year-old son just now as we’re in the park together. It sounds really cheesy, but we were sat on a swing together and I was singing to him; he’s the only person in the world who wants to hear me doing that! Purchase I’m going to the South of France soon so I bought my son a cute little sun hat, which I got for…

Big Brother is back and that means so is the gorgeous Emma Willis. The TV presenter, 38, who is mum to daughter Isabelle, five, and son Ace, two, can’t wait for it to really get going – and frankly, neither can we! Emma’s husband, Matt Willis, 31, is currently away touring with McBusted, and she joked, ‘We miss Matt, but the house is much tidier!’ Here, she chats babies, romance and life behind the lens… How are you finding Matt being away? Matt’s touring, but we try to go and see him every week, and he pops back on his days off. We all miss him but we Skype and FaceTime. It’s good because when he’s away, he’s like, ‘I feel like I’m not helping!’ so I said…

The woman’s face was inches from my own, and beside it, held in her latex-sheathed fingers, I could see a syringe filled with glistening Botox. My beauty juice. It was destined for the small vertical line that lay between my eyebrows like a crease in a sheet and which made me look grumpy, I thought. I closed my eyes, ready for the short sting. But the needle didn’t swoop and when I opened them again, I saw that it was my chin, not my forehead, the woman was staring at. ‘If I were you, I’d do something about that line,’ she declared, critically, pointing just beneath my lips with one rubbery digit. I didn’t even know I had a wrinkle there. But she let me see it in the mirror…

The professional tools Barry M, famous for its punchy pigments, is about to get serious with a new brush collection, priced from £2.99. Don’t be fooled by the funky design – these synthetic brushes deliver a pro finish. The bargain blusher Nothing says youthful skin like a flush of dewy colour on the apples of the cheeks and George Crème Blush, £3, Asda, delivers just that. The all-day lippy Amazing colour, long-lasting hydration and a fade-proof finish – L’Oréal Paris Infallible Lip Colour, £9.99, does it all. Apply the base shade, then add the conditioning balm on top. The model mascara Kate Moss has extended her Rimmel range to eye make-up. The Kate Mascara, £7.49, comes in an array of eye-enhancing jewel tones. The clever concealer Makeup Revolution’s The One…

Opportunity ornightmare? My husband’s been unhappy in his job for the past three years. On a whim, he applied for a job in Australia. Much to our shock, he got it plus relocation costs! It’s a dream come true except my dad has just gone into a home with dementia and Mum is very lonely. Our kids are three and five so if we don’t move now, the whole schools thing will make it much more complicated. Help! Irene, 34, Surrey My top pieces of advice are don’t rush and prioritise your happiness. Take time to think about what you need to make this move work for you. Getting your mum support and company has to be top of the list. I also wonder if you’ve thoroughly investigated the visa…

5 STEPS TO... boosting the value of your house When it comes to selling your home, it makes sense to get the most from what you’ve got. The good news is there are lots of small tweaks to bump up the asking price. 1 Curb your enthusiasm Do as much as you can to keep the outside of your home looking clean and tidy. Hide the bins away, tidy up communal areas and if you have a garden, make sure the grass is cut and clear of leaves. 2 Put your house in order Giving your home a good spring clean is the cheapest and easiest way to increase its potential value. Getting rid of clutter will make rooms look larger. For more money-saving cleaning tips, visit goodtoknow.co.uk/cleaning. 3 Scrub…

PLANE CRAZY TOWIE’s stars caused havoc before they arrived in Marbella for the latest series because they had too much luggage on their aircraft. Easyjet bosses had to ground the plane at Southend airport, and could only take off once they’d paid four women not connected to the show £100 each to get off. Bobby Cole Norris, who stars in the reality show, said, ‘A flight attendant said they’d never experienced it in 20 years – but then they’ve never had TOWIE on board before!’ Popping the question? Olly Murs, 30, is said to be so smitten with girlfriend of nearly two years, Francesca Thomas, 25, that he’s planning on proposing to her. According to a source, Olly, who originally kept their relationship a secret to give it a chance…

Bhs The nautical trend reinvents itself every summer and this year it’s making a comeback with a twist. Look out for pieces with added elegant lacy touches and feminine florals. New Look It’s all about the details with this high street brand’s summer collection. From laser-cut sandals and beaded bags to palm-tree prints, it’s the finishing touches that count! Oasis Is your wardrobe in need of a youthful update? Head to the shop best known for its versatile, easy-to-wear styles……

Whattodo 1 For the next four weeks, choose from the calorie-controlled breakfast, lunch and dinner selections, being careful to eat at regular intervals and not to skip any meals. 2 In addition, have two snacks every day from the list, plus 275ml skimmed milk to meet your calcium needs. 3 Drink six to eight glasses of water a day – more if it’s hot or you’re working out. Tea and coffee (made with milk from your allowance), herbal tea and diet drinks are fine too. Don’t have four weeks? You can still shift up to four pounds in just a couple of weeks, but you’ll need to go without the snacks if you can. You can fill up and keep your hands busy with ‘free food’ nibbles of crunchy cucumber,…

Safe in the sun Most of us are pretty good at slapping on the sun cream on holiday, but on a normal day in the UK, it generally gets forgotten. Who needs SPF when it’s cloudy? Well, all of us, actually! Research by Boots found 22% of Brits only apply sun cream when on holiday. ‘The research also showed that 60% of us don’t use any other SPF protection, just sun cream, and only 19% of us wear sunglasses as UV protection for our eyes,’ says Clare O’Connor, Boots UK Suncare Expert. ‘Use a daily skincare range with added SPF and UVA protection under your make-up to protect your face, and make sure any sunglasses you buy offer 100% UV protection.’ Zapthe sneezing Nearly 18 million Brits get hay fever…

No choice What about those brunettes who are turning salt and pepper? They usually go light to camouflage the grey, therefore more blonde. I personally would love to have my dark hair again but with age also comes lighter skin and going dark would look unnatural. Funny isn't it, you never know what you have got till it's gone or on its way out! ANGELA JOHNSTON, NORTHAMPTON DARKER IS BETTER I would love chestnut brown or auburn hair. I definitely think dark hair is much more attractive than blonde. At the moment, mine’s silvery grey but I will soon be dyeing it brown with blonde highlights. LIZ LAFFERTY, DUNDEE Hair colour isn’t a competition Each person has their own unique qualities and making the most of them is what’s important.…

She’s a breath of fresh air! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your interview with Jennie McAlpine, ‘I still remember my first day!’ I can’t believe she’s been in Corrie for over a decade! It was so pleasant to read something positive when we are usually faced with greedy celebrities who are never satisfied with what they have. Jennie came across as such a down-to-earth, ordinary person, who is happy with her life. The fact she runs a restaurant and also acts is amazing! C Shanks, via email Perfect duchess I love seeing all the fab pictures of Kate Middleton. She has such a great smile and poise to go with it, so befitting of a royal. She beats them all – past and present! Esme Schwan, via Facebook Such torture I…

Prince william CANCER (21 JUNE) Becoming a dad coincided with the start of a positive new cycle in William’s chart. A true Cancer, his family enables him to express more of his personality in the public eye this year. He’s super-broody for more children too. Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr When it comes to negotiations, sorting out problems or finding things you’ve lost, this week is brilliant. Especially around Thursday when you’re full of bright ideas and solutions. Think deeply – you’ll be amazed at what you come up with. For more call 0901 609 4780* Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May There’s a lovely buzz about this week. Your ability to improve the world around you with tasteful purchases or cooking up a storm is strong. Put fun…

DVD Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire blew us away with her gritty performance in Happy Valley . She plays a hard-hitting police officer, Catherine Cawood, who stumbles upon a crime scene in the pursuit of the man who damaged her daughter. It’s not for the faint-hearted and will have you on the edge of your seat right until the last scene. FILM Jersey Boys Those who have seen the stage version of Jersey Boys will know what a treat they’re in for when the film is released this month. Clint Eastwood directs the story of Frankie Valli And The Four Seasons from their humble beginnings to becoming the biggest pop stars in the world, via the Mafia, tragedy and plenty of Hollywood glamour. You’ll be singing along to…

LOOKING GOOD LES! We’ll be seeing a lot less of Les Dennis, after the actor revealed he’s lost 14lb since joining Coronation Street . The former Family Fortunes star, 60, says that he’s dropped a stone while appearing on the soap as burglar Michael Rodwell. Les has been doing the 5:2 diet, popular with celebs such as Phillip Schofield. ‘I’ve got more energy now.’ he said. ‘You find you don’t need to eat as much. It really does work for me!’ Taking some Flack! Caroline Flack may have thought she was a cert for the Xtra Factor presenting job, after all she’s been doing it for the past three years. But the star, 34, will have to audition again, as she’s up against…