Innholdsfortegnelse for 15-Dec-2014 i Woman's Own

So just what are we going to do? The antics in the jungle are over, X Factor winds up this weekend and n no time Strictly will be finished too. How will we get our celeb fix now? Fear not – another series of Celebrity Big Brother is just around the corner. A few famous names are already being touted to enter the house – Calum Best, Katie Price, Patsy Kensit… But whoever ends up in the final line-up, there’s no doubt we’ll have great fun watching them humiliate themselves for the cameras. Add presenters Emma Willis and Rylan clark to the mix and our January evenings are sure to be a blast! Join us online Head to our fabulous website, womansown.co.uk, to get all the latest celeb gossip, great…

She famously lost 11st 4lb after having a gastric band fitted and then went on to conceive through IVF at 50. Now Shameless actress Tina Malone is set to undergo more controversial surgery in her quest for a perfect body. In two weeks’ time she will have a series of operations to remove 10lb of excess skin left following her extreme weight loss. The surgery coincides with her adored little girl Flame’s first birthday. Woman’s Own caught up with Tina, 51, to talk frankly about her incredible decision to risk her life for her looks and how, despite everything she’s faced, she’s already making plans with husband Paul, 32, for more IVF. You’re planning on surgery to have excess skin removed I’m having my boobs, belly, chin and thighs done…

As I put the finishing touches to my hair and applied a slick of lipstick, my partner, Richard, 38, smiled at my reflection. ‘You look great,’ he said. It was December 2012 and I’d been looking forward to this night for weeks. Richard’s office was throwing a Christmas party in London, an hour away from our home in Basingstoke, and we’d booked a plush hotel room so we didn’t have to rush back after. Richard and I had spent every Christmas together since we’d met six years earlier. I’d been working part-time as a barmaid in Basingstoke and he’d often come to DJ on Friday nights. He was gorgeous, with fair hair, blue eyes and a loud laugh that rang around the room. We struck up a close friendship and,…

Glitter guidelines ◆ LESS IS MORE Limit your self to glitter in just one area, whether it’s eyes, lips or nails, for an understated, elegant effect. Metallic finishes can be a bit more forgiving for shimmer first-timers. ◆ STUCKONYOU To give loose glitter something to hold on to, coat eyelids with clear lip gloss, Vaseline or even a dash of moisturiser. ◆ MOP IT UP Glitter can be messy. Use masking tape to pickup any speck son your cheeks (but be careful!), and leave your foundation and concealer until last.…

Take up intervals Struggling to keep up with your fitness routine now it’s cold and grey? Forget long sessions and embrace interval training, whether you’re in the gym or jogging outside. It’s quick enough to do in your lunch hour and is an effective fat burner. Pick your choice of cardio and go as fast as you can for 20 seconds, followed by 10 seconds of recovery. Repeat three times. Work at building up to eight sets of intervals. Train your brain Menopausal anxiety... work stress? These tips will help you focus and relax 1 Take a 30-minute daily detox from technology, including your smartphone, to give your grey matter a well-deserved rest. 2 Do puzzles such as Sudoku or crosswords. When these get easier, it’s time for a new…

Reader rated MICHELLE FULLICK, 51, MIDDLE SEX ‘I’ve been juggling work, three children and studying for a degree and I’m I menopausal, too. My friend recommended 6 Vitamin Shot (￡2.50 each, 6vitaminshot.co.uk), a mix of liquid B vitamins and amino acids. They’ve helped boost my energy and given my skin a glow.’ In tune with the MOON? A recent study shows that women are at their most sexually aroused and fertile during a full moon. Fertility specialist Dr Philip Chenette of the Pacific Fertility Center, San Francisco, believes it is because the light of the moon may regulate production of the hormone melatonin, which can affect your menstrual cycle. If you fancy a romantic start to the New’ the next full moon is d on 5 January! So courageous Actress…

In Store NOW We love these Italian baked biscuits by Arden & Amici. Choose from Soft Amaretti, Crunchy Amaretti and Almond Cantuccini. Individually wrapped and in a lovely tin, they’re perfect with a Christmas latte. Priced ￡4.99 each, Tesco and Waitrose. Great for guests… Slice it for sandwiches or serve hot with mash. This Sainsbury’s Butcher’s Choice Orange & Malt Whisky Honey Cured Gammon, ￡10 for 1.3kg, is perfect with Taste The Difference Piccalilli, ￡1.80, on the side! Easy entertaining Head to Tesco for all your party needs! Its Easy Entertaining and Party food ranges are packed with favourites, luxurious platters and show-stopping puds. We love Finest Salmon Dipping Platter, Glitter Prawns and the Croquembouche Patisserie Kit (right). Entertaining has never been so easy! From £3.50. ON TEST FESTIVE FIZZ Which…

The theme tune to Coronation Street started up and I sank back on to the sofa. Sipping on a Baileys, I had one eye on my son, George, counting the presents under the tree, and the other on what was going on in The Rovers. It was Christmas Eve 2010, and all the presents were wrapped and the sprouts ready. I was a single mum to George, 10, and the two of us usually spent Christmas with my family. But this year, George had insisted, ‘Just you and me, Mum.’ I was flattered that he wanted me all to himself. In the adverts I got up to switch on the Christmas lights, but as I bent down, I felt a strange clicking sensation above my collarbone. My hand shot to…

I ’ve been buying Woman’s Own since the day I got married, 53 years ago! I love all the stories and I always read about the bingo winners. But I never expected to see myself on a page like this! I joined Woman’s Own Bingo about two years ago. I live in the country and it isn’t always easy for me to get in to town. Being able to play bingo online was the ideal way for me to wind down after a busy week. I like to have a few games of a weekend, but I also pre-buy tickets during the week for when I’m at work. The games will play out even when you’re not logged on to the computer. Sometimes, before I go to my job as…

EXIT FACTOR Simon Cowell could be leaving Blighty for a another venture across the pond, as he plans four new TV series in the States for 2015! The music mogul, 55, revealed, ‘There’s another show that I will be on in America – a new one, which we’ve been working on for a few months. Next year we’ll have a minimum of four shows on US networks.’ With his new projects, many people are now speculating that Simon’s return to the X Factor judging panel in the UK was only short-lived and he won’t be back next year. But for now, he’s focusing on the final this weekend [See What’s Hot On The Box, right]. ‘You just don’t know who’s going to win,’ Simon added. ‘I love that idea.’ A…

She’s the TV star whose appearance and love life dominate the headlines. But this year has been the hardest ever for Katie Price, 36, after finding her third husband Kieran Hayler, 27, had been cheating on her with two close friends. But now the mum-of-five is looking forward to Christmas and putting the past behind her… What makes you happiest at Christmas? Having everyone at my house and I love cooking. I do it all – all the trimmings. I never cheat, apart from with the gravy. What’s the best present you’ve ever received? I get so many different kinds of presents there’s never one that I think, ‘Wow, that was amazing.’ Maybe there’s one still to come! I always used to cheat when I was younger and would tear…

English rose This Burberry tie-dyed dress looks sensational on Cat Deeley, 38. The wrap-over neckline elongates her torso and shows off her shoulders. In the black From demure Down ton diva to off-screen siren, Michelle Dockery, 32, flaunts her fair complexion to the max in this split to-the-thigh gown. Golden girl Kylie Minogue, 46, looks like a princess in this chic chiffon gown. The metallic gold detailing and elegant train makes the petite star a showstopper. Grecian goddess Keeping it classy with just the right amount of reveal, Helen Mirren, 69, shows a plunging neckline can work at any age. White heat Never one to shy away from flashing the flesh, Mel B, 39, opts for a deep V-neckline and a thigh-high asymmetric hemline. Green flash Jessie J, 26, ups…

‘I’m taking the family away skiing this Christmas’ After famously winning back his family following his brief affair last year, Paul Hollywood, 48, is determined to make Christmas as special as he can for his wife, Alex, 50, andtheirson,Josh,13… Where will you be spending Christmas? I’m taking the family away skiing, we did it last year, too. I might bake Mary’s Genoa cake and take it with me for the big day. Where do you stand on Christmas pudding? I love it with custard! My advice is make it early and steam it on Christmas Day. If you’re going to put coins in, wrap them in silicone, not tin foil like my nan used to do-when you bit into it you really knew you’d hit it! What do you most…

Naomi Watts, 46, goes for a casual take on this look with slinky silver jeans, a simple white shirt, blazer and heels Amanda Holden, 43, stuns in a sexy off the shoulder metallic gown. Teaming it with delicate jewels, the Britain’s Got Talentjudge looks red-carpet glam DOS&DON’TS DO mix metallics with other shades. Gold works with jewel tones and silver with pastels. DO make it work in other ways. Dress up a plain top with a statement necklace, or your LBD with a metallic clutch or shiny court shoes. DON’T overdo accessories. Let the clothes do the talking. DON’T think metallics are just for evening. Dress down a sequinned top with casual jeans or throw a chunky knit over a sparkly skirt for day.…

1 Aim to maintain Unless you come down with food poisoning like salmonella (let’s hope that you don’t), realistically you are not going to lose any weight over the Christmas period, so opt to maintain your weight rather than lose it – this option will feel much more achievable, and less stressful! 2 Be booze clever It’s easy to pour more booze at home than you would get in a pub or wine bar. To stay on track, measure as you go – 25ml for a single and 50ml for a double measure of spirits, and 175ml for a medium glass of wine. Finish one drink before you have another, avoiding top-ups. 3 Choose wisely Don’t waste precious calories on everyday crisps or biscuits. Be selective and choose only the…

LET’S TALK A BOUT SEX How do I stop his sex sulks ? In the last two years my libido has taken a battering because of the menopause. My husband has taken my lack of interest in sex very personally. I do enjoy it occasionally, but I wish there was a way I could tell him I’m not feeling like sex without him sulking. Lydia, 54, via email I’m sorry to hear the menopause has hit your sex life so hard. It’s different for every woman, but some say it’s only a temporary issue. Which is why your question about how to honour your lower libido while also finding a way to stay connected is so important. I wonder if your hubby understands that you are rejecting sex, not him?…

The Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) I it’s where 80,000 babies, ill or premature, are admitted each year,! desperately needing medical help 1 as they battle for survival. It’s an unlikely place for friendships to form but, in the summer of 2008, four women met in one such unit at Musgrove Park Hospital in Somerset. Despite being strangers before the birth of their children, they not only grew close but came 1 to rely on each other for support. Six years on, they share their harrowing experience… I could let my guard down with them all Joanna Hebbard,38, works for a funeral director. SheandhusbandKevin, 45, livein Minehead, Somerset, withsonLouis, seven, and non-identical triplets Jessica, Megan and Katie, six. The girls were born four weeks premature on 4 August 2008. Jessica weighed4lb11oz, Megan…

5 TIPS FOR hassle-free online shopping Almost half of us plan to do our festive gift shopping online, with many of us leaving it until next week to get started, according to a new survey*. But shopping on the web doesn’t mean you should get stuck with unwanted or below-par gifts, so know your rights and how to protect yourself this December. 1 RIGHT TO RETURN You have a seven-day ‘cooling-off’ period from ‘cooling-off period from the date you receive goods bought online, with the right to a full refund, regardless the reason for the return. This also applies to orders made on the telephone or by post. But there are some notable exceptions. For example, if the goods were personalised, perishable or if they’re not in the same condition…

You can win a YouView+ box and a 47in LG TV giving you the opportunity to enjoy seamless live, on-demand and catch-up television. It’s the perfect prize for TV fans. Whatever keeps you from your telly, with a YouView+ box you can scroll through the last seven days and watch the programmes you’ve missed straight from the guide. You can also pause, rewind and record selected live TV. An on-demand TV service with more than 70 live digital channels, YouView+ seamlessly combines seven-day catch up on BBC iP layer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand 5 with a library of on-demand TV programmes and films. A range of quality content is available via on demand players including UKTV Play, Sky Store, Quest OD, milkshake!, S4C and STV*. Great content is also…

1 The Daffodil Hotel & Spa GRASMERE, CUMBRIA The hotel’s Detox by Day, Devil by Night spa package is perfect if you want to boost your wellbeing while spoiling yourself at the same time. Have a healthy lunch, body wrap and massage during the day, while in the evening go all-out glam with a pre-dinner cocktail followed by a three-course dinner served with a glass of bubbly. PRICES £295 per room per night, including breakfast BOOKING daffodilhotel. co.uk/spa; 01539 463 550 2 Galgorm Resort&Spa COANTRIM, NORTHER NIRELAND With tempting treatments including a Frankincense& Cranberry Cleopatra Bath, you can’t help but feel Christmassy at this secluded spa. A Yuletide Delight Spa Day package is available from Sunday to Friday throughout December and includes a one-hour thermal spa experience, choice of treatments…

BBC Music Awards THURSDAY11 DECEMBER,BBC1,8PM Join Fearne Cotton and Chris Evans as they host the BBC Music Awards, a celebration of UK and international artists from 2014. There will also be performances from One Direction and Coldplay. The X Factor FINAL SATURDAY13 ANDSUNDAY14 DECEMBER,ITV,8PM Don’t miss this weekend’s X Factor final as the contestants battle it out to win the biggest talent show on TV! Rumours are that Madonna herself, and other music legends, will be making appearances, too. The Only Way Is Essexmas WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER, ITVBE, 10PM All our fave Essex lot are back for this festive special. Expect drama, laughs and sparkly jumpers as we celebrate Christmas with the TOWIE gang. Want the best Christmas and New Year TV guide? Then pick up the What’s On TV…

Spice FIGHTS It sounds like Mel B lived up to her Scary name back in the day, after revealing that she and Mel C, 40, used to get physical. The X Factor judge reminisced recently about life in the Spice Girls, saying, ‘Me and Mel C had a few punch-ups. We would irritate each other. It always started with a shove, not a punch.’ Mel B, 39, did insist that it never ended too violently, adding, Two seconds later, we’d be rolling about laughing, going, ‘You silly bugger.’’ Winning BET! Clare Balding has admitted she won £2,000 after a bet with her mum that she couldn’t lose weight! The TV star revealed that her mother turned her weight loss into a competition, which spurred her on to drop the pounds.…

Outrageous behaviour This award usually goes to the teen celebs who rock the tabloid front pages on a weekly basis – ahem, One Direction. But this time around it goes to Amanda Holden, 43, for flashing her flesh not once, but twice! The This Morning stand-in host has shown her bare-cheeked bum and ‘accidentally’ flashed her knickers on the red carpet. Naughty Amanda! Worst love cheat It was a no-brainer that Katie Price’s husband, Kieran Hayler, 27, is the winner of the worst love cheat award. Poor Katie, 36, discovered he’d not only slept with one, but two, of her best friends. She’s stuck by him, though. ‘I found him in the shower curled up in a ball,’ said Katie. ‘He was crying his eyes out. We’re working on our…

1 Take a dip Skip your regular two-minute shower and make time for a bath instead. A 15-minute soak will relax your mind and body. Turbocharge its soothing powers with Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil, £30, M&S. The aroma works wonders on the senses. 2 Cover dark circles If you’re stressed out and not sleeping you can expect to add some serious under-eyebaggage to your list of winter woes. The niacinamide in Olay Regenerist Luminous Dark Circle Correcting Swirl Eye, £29.99, helps to renew the top layer of cells around the eye so that skin looks smoother and brighter. So that’s one less thing to worry about! 3 Bean oil expert Inhaling an essential oil blend lowers the level of the stress hormone cortisol in the blood stream. Peppermint…

The tree is up, the presents are wrapped and the lights are twinkling. Preparations for the big day are well under way. But while many women will have worked hard to create the perfect Christmas for their families, the sad truth is that while they’re putting the finishing touches to the meal plan, their husbands’ minds may be elsewhere. December is a prime time for men to be unfaithful. In fact, the steep rise in cheating over the holidays has led to January being ominously nicknamed ‘divorce month’, as applications surge by a quarter in the first week of the new year. If that wasn’t bad enough, figures show that men spend twice as much on presents for their mistresses than they do on their wives. But what is it…

1 What time on Christmas Day does the average UK adult have their first alcoholic drink? A) 9.05am B) 10.15am C) 11.55am ANSWER: A When hotel chain Travelodge quizzed 2,500 Brits about their 25 December schedules, they found the average adult crack so pen the alcohol at 9.05am–and doesn’t eat breakfast until 9.19am. 2 Which of these popular stuffing mixes contains some surprising hidden health benefits? A) Pork sausage meat with sage and onion B) Pork sausage meat with chestnut and thyme C) Pork sausage meat with apple and cranberry ANSWER: B Chestnuts are rich inomega-3 fatty acids, which support heart health, hormone balance and have anti inflammatory qualities. Thyme has antibacterial properties, which can help promote the correct balance of micro organisms in the intestines, supporting healthy digestion. It…

Cranberry & raspberry meringue wreath SERVES 10 PREP TIME 30 MINS COOKING TIME 1 HR 15 MINS PLUS COOLING YOU WILL NEED ◆ 5 egg whites ◆ 275g caster sugar ◆ ½tsp ground cinnamon ◆ 300ml double cream ◆ 50g each fresh/defrosted frozen cranberries and raspberries ◆ 50g white chocolate, melted ◆ 50g dark chocolate, melted ◆ Icing sugar HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 120°C/ Gas ½. Line a baking tray, draw a 23cm circle on the paper and turn it over. Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until stiff. Add the caster sugar 1tbsp at a time, whisking well between each addition, adding the cinnamon with the last spoon of sugar. Whisk until stiff. 2 Place spoonfuls of meringue in a circle on…

On Christmas morning last year, millions of children across the country woke up excited to see what Santa had brought them. Their faces spread into wide grins as they unwrapped their new phones, games consoles and scooters. But my 12-year-old daughter Lexi Reynolds didn’t have anything in her stocking. And before you think, ‘Oh, how sad,’ I should tell you it was entirely her choice. Because, as unbelievable as it may sound, Lexi was adamant she didn’t want a single present. Instead, she chose to travel halfway across the world to help children far less fortunate than herself on this special day. Lexi had always wanted to go to Gambia. I’d visited the country for a holiday in 1994 and she’d grown up listening tomy stories. ‘The children out there…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr It’s not what you need just before Christmas, but this isn’t the most stable week. Changes of mind and plans are coming at you left, right and centre and you’re having to adapt by the second. But after Monday it’s all much easier. ◆ For more call 0901 609 4780* Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May There’s a lot of stress and change about and with Christmas also in the mix, things won’t feel that relaxing. Fortunately, taking refuge in Taurus-loving activities such as baking and decorating will keep you sane. ◆ For more call 0901 609 4781* Gemini 21May–20Jun Over the next six months your closest one-on-ones could feel more like hard work than usual. You’re set for a testing time with your…

Ex Emmerdale and Bad Girls star Claire King is joining Corrie as Nick Tilsley’s love interest, Erika. The actress, 51, splits her time between Yorkshire, where she lives with her boyfriend, and a holiday home in Spain. We cosied up with her to talk dating, regrets and her plans for the festive season. Christmas is coming. Are you ready? Last year I had the luxury of going to Spain for Christmas and ignoring the whole thing. I took a nice piece of chateaubriand, which is a lot easier to cook than all the trimmings with the turkey. But this year I’ve been elected as chef by my stepdaughters and parents, so I can’t get out of it. But I do have most of December to get it organised, so I…

The Fall’s Bronagh Waugh, 32, on working with Jamie Dornan, getting naked and on-screen kissing You play Sally Ann in The Fall and get to snog Jamie Dornan. Were you nervous? No, we’ve been on this journey together for two years now, so it’s just weird. He’d be mortified if anyone thought that. It’s just Jamie! But you must find him sexy… When you work in the industry, nothing is very sexy. You’re working with someone and it’s work. So I wasn’t fazed at all. What do you and the cast think about him being Mr Grey in the new Fifty Shades Of Grey movie? Everyone on the team is really pleased for him, and I’ll definitely watch it. I think if anyone’s going to do it, he’ll do it…