Innholdsfortegnelse for 31-Aug-2020 i Woman's Own

SHERIDAN SMITH Sheridan Smith gave birth to her first child, Billy – with her fiancé, Jamie Horn – back in May, and she’s now letting cameras in for a new ITV documentary, Becoming Mum. The 39-year-old actress has been open about anxiety and depression in the past, following the death of her father, Colin, in 2016. The show will explore how she’s overcoming her mental-health battles while dealing with becoming a first-time mum. Sheridan announced the news she and Jamie had welcomed their bundle of joy in May, when she posted a picture on Instagram confirming, ‘Our little man has arrived! We are both completely overwhelmed with love.’ • Sheridan Smith: Becoming Mum is on ITV this week Remember, you can download Woman’s Own from the App Store or Google…

‘After years in a long-distance relationship, I’m now locked up with the girl of my dreams’ For most couples, lockdown has been the longest amount of time they’ve ever spent together without the escape of everyday routine – and, for many, it’s caused huge rows and break-ups. But, that’s not the case for Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan – who have spent the pandemic together and quarantined for two weeks after a holiday to Spain. Due to Michelle, 33, spending many months filming Our Girl in South Africa, while Mark, also 33, presents for Extra in Los Angeles, the pair don’t usually even live on the same continent – and they’ve been dogged with rumours of problems within their marriage for years because of it. But former TOWIE star Mark…

This bold suit from The Kooples kicked off a winning streak of leopard-print looks for the radio presenter, as she used the pavement as her own personal catwalk during lockdown. Myleene accessorised with statement sunglasses, a lust-worthy Chanel tote and a pair of barely-there black heeled sandals. Myleene rocks The Kooples suit again with the same heeled sandals, yet sports a fresh new hairstyle and a glossy mani-pedi. She mixes up this ensemble by adding a black lace-trim cami and switches her Chanel bag for a jumbo, white quilted version. Styling the lace-trim black cami with a darker pair of leopard-print trousers, Myleene ditches the heels and toughens up the outfit with a pair of chunky boots. Her go-to jewellery of layered gold necklaces stays the same and she adds…

Knowing the chances of cancer gene Q My mum died young with breast cancer. We didn’t know much about the genetics of breast cancer in those days and it’s not something I have ever discussed with my GP. I have just become a grandma to a beautiful baby girl and suddenly, I feel a real need to know whether I could have passed on the breast cancer gene to her via my son. My mammograms have all been clear. Can I be tested? A It’s certainly worth discussing with your GP. The BRCA gene does increase the risk of breast cancer in younger women and it is possible your mum may have had the gene. Your doctor can refer you to a genetics specialist who will talk you through the…

‘Use the STOP technique when you feel calmness disappearing, such as when reading rolling coverage of current events,’ says Dr Arroll, who says it can work within 10 minutes. ‘Often, just bringing awareness to your actions is enough to halt anxious feelings.’ Here’s how... S is for Stop. Pause for a moment and stop whatever it is that you’re doing. T is for Take a breath. Ground yourself by reconnecting your mind and body through a deep breath to anchor you in the moment. O is for Observe. Now increase awareness of what’s happening right now. How do you feel? In this moment, what sensations, thoughts and actions are you engaged in? P is for Proceed. Make a mindful decision about whether you want to continue with the present action,…

1 WRITE DOWN YOUR WORRIES BEFORE BED Scribble them down, don’t read them back and throw the paper away. This simple exercise is perfect for de-stressing before sleep. 2 CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS When you are tired but can’t sleep, it’s easy to lie there and think negatively. If you find yourself doing this, get up, change locations and do something so you can nip those worries in the bud. 3 DOWNLOAD WHITE NOISE LITE APP The app plays over 40 looped background sounds over a wide range of frequencies throughout the night, helping to mask any interruptions, so you stay asleep.…

Sainsbury’s Boutique Lengthening Mascara, £3 For long, fluttery lashes, a slick of this ultra-black mascara will complete your look without the hefty price tag. M&S Autograph Length Infinity Mascara, £11 This long-lasting mascara won’t flake off or smudge, so you can flutter your lashes all day. With rave reviews, it seriously rivals higher-end options. Aldi Too Legit! Waterproof Mascara, £5.99 A great waterproof mascara that shares a striking resemblance to a particular high-end brand, but at a fraction of the cost. Lidl Cien Volume Mascara, £1.99 The bristled wand of this affordable mascara grabs onto lashes for extra volume and length.…

English breakfast baked eggs Serves 2 Baked eggs are very popular as a Middle-Eastern-style brunch. Here, we’ve given them a twist, inspired by the traditional fry-up, so you have an English breakfast in one dish. Use heatproof bowls for homely, individual servings. You will need ✽ 2 pork sausages ✽ 2tbsp rapeseed oil ✽ 4 eggs ✽ 1tbsp butter ✽ 50g mixed wild mushrooms, sliced ✽ Slices of buttered sourdough toast, to serve For the tomato sauce ✽ 1tbsp rapeseed oil ✽ 4 rashers streaky bacon, finely sliced ✽ ½ onion, finely chopped ✽ 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped ✽ 400g tin chopped tomatoes ✽ 1 sprig thyme ✽ ½tbsp caster sugar ✽ 2 handfuls of baby spinach How to do it 1 First, make the tomato sauce. Heat the…

Katy Fridman, founder of Facebook community Flexible Working People, says: With the threat of a second lockdown looming, there’s a feeling of dread. But it feels different this time, somehow less terrifying with people trying to find ways to control what they can control. It’s going to be less about hoarding toilet rolls and pasta and much more about looking after our mental health and finding ways to keep working and managing childcare. With mass redundancies, some are looking to secure key-worker roles, while others are budgeting now in case a second wave means they lose their job. Childcare is a big problem. One of my members is relocating her family for six months from Kent to Devon to secure a new childcare bubble with family, just in case. A…

‘All the exercise filled me with endorphins’ Climbing into my car, I gave way to the tears I’d been holding in and cried hysterically. Minutes earlier, I’d stood on the scales for the first time in years at my local Slimming World meeting and was completely blind-sided when I saw 17st 10lb flash up. I knew I was overweight, but I hadn’t expected it to be that bad. At 5ft 4in and size 20, I was clinically obese, putting my life in danger. Ever since I was a teen, I’d slipped into a vicious circle of yo-yo dieting. I’d lose a couple of stone and then pile it back on. The problem was, I loved food but hated exercise. My meals would always include plenty of veg, but I lacked…

Enola Holmes, Netflix Meet Sherlock Holmes’ feisty sister Enola, played by Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. On her 16th birthday, her mother (Helena Bonham Carter) goes missing, so Enola goes on a super-sleuthing mission to find her, where she befriends a troubled young aristocratic runaway (Louis Partridge) in the adventure of a lifetime! Simon Schama: Romantics and Us, BBC2 Historian Simon Schama will explore Romanticism in his new BBC2 history series. He’ll be joined by Sir David Attenborough, Christopher Eccleston and Tobias Menzies to discuss the art, poetry and music of the likes of Delacroix, Chopin and Wordsworth. Why Women Kill, Alibi This dark comedy series from Desperate Housewives exec producer Marc Cherry follows three married women living in three different decades, whose husbands all commit adultery. Ginnifer Goodwin…

Lisa Riley on life out of lockdown and loving the new normal with partner Al… We last caught up six months ago – how are you, old pal? We’re filming in ‘Spotlessville’ at the moment. I feel like a human bottle of Dettol! The safety side of it is unreal but the hard thing is there are a lot of arguments coming up and you want to get in people’s faces, but we can’t. Mandy Dingle is the ultimate space invader, so that’s been a challenge. And I’m like that anyway – I just love people! But this will be the regime well into the new year – it works and it is safe. Were you prone to wipe down a surface before this? My house is like a hospital.…

Prior to lockdown, Mark admits he was going out drinking lots with his friends, especially at the weekends. But he now looks forward to having a glass of wine or two over dinner with his wife during the week instead, as well as cooking together. He said, ‘Michelle is a cracking chef. She has made a lot of delicious banana bread and lets me be her sous chef, so I help out.’ And he told GQ , ‘Once or twice a week I’ll have a glass of wine or two with dinner, whereas back in the day I’d wait for the weekend and get absolutely smashed with my mates. ‘That’ll definitely be a habit I take forward in life: the idea of smashing shots doesn’t really appeal to me, but…

When the ivory wedding invitation dropped on to my doormat in spring 2019, my heart swelled with happiness. ‘We’d love it if you’d be our guest of honour,’ my friend and bride-to-be Cara Hearst, then 28, had written. As I excitedly sent off my RSVP – a huge yes – there was, admittedly, a part of me that felt sad I’d never get to watch my own son, Daryl, marry the love of his life. But this would be the next best thing, because, you see, if it wasn’t for Daryl, Cara may not have lived to get her happy ending. ‘It’s not the end, this is the beginning’ The story behind my friendship with Cara began with a phone call a decade earlier, in January 2009. ‘There’s been an…

Embarrassed for GP to see my lump I noticed a small hard lump in Q the inner lips of my vagina in the shower this week. I have had a look with a mirror and am worried. It looks a bit yellow. Could this be cancer? The only female doctor in my practice is on maternity leave. I really don’t want to see a man with this, but I am so scared. What you are describing sounds A likely to be a benign cyst, but all lumps should be checked. Please don’t be embarrassed. Your GP will have seen this before and a brief exam will almost certainly mean he can put your mind at rest.…

1 Get out in the day. ‘Sunlight is a natural mood booster and exposure to natural light helps to fully wake up your body clock, so that by night, your body is ready for sleep.’ 2 Ditch the phone. ‘Put your phone away an hour before bed. Many people use social media to find in their community, thinking this assurance will relax them, it could make them even more anxious.’ 3 Find a photo. ‘Imagery can be used to get your mind into a state of security, so spend five minutes looking at some images that you find soothing.’…

It worked for me Claire Silverstone, 47, from Greater London ‘I went through an extremely stressful time over the past few years with my incontinence and I restricted myself going out because of it. Then I tried Sanature Pro Vivo Incontinence Pads (RRP £4.49, Ocado, LloydsPharmacy). They’re so comfortable. They make me feel safe and I don’t notice that I’m wearing them. I have had no issues with leakage, odour, skin reactions or disposal. I finally have the confidence to leave my house again!’ 57% of women risk their eyesight by sleeping in make-up, found Scope UK.…

Headaches are horrid and always seem to hit at the worst moment, and while triggers can include everything from stress and hormones to the weather, food and drink can also have a big impact. ‘It is so important you eat regularly and stay hydrated,’ explains nutritional therapist Jenny Tschiesche. ‘Dehydration is one of the main causes of headaches, so do drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Also, make sure you eat a balance of protein and fibre at each meal to help balance your blood-sugar levels.’ If you suffer from frequent headaches, Jenny suggests cutting down on chocolate, red wine, cheese, coffee, wheat, citrus fruit, peanuts, artificial sweeteners and corn. It sounds like a lengthy list, but these are all known to be headache triggers. However, when…

TIME TO MAKE: 2 HOURS PLUS DRYING TIME YOU WILL NEED ✽ Bath bomb moulds ✽ 70g citric acid ✽ 140g sodium bicarbonate ✽ Lavender essential oil ✽ 1tbsp almond oil ✽ Dried lavender ✽ Dried rose petals ✽ Protective gloves ✽ Weighing scales ✽ Large bowl ✽ Sieve ✽ Spoon or whisk ✽ Measuring spoon 1 Weigh out the citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, then sieve into a large mixing bowl. Mix the dry ingredients together with a gloved hand or whisk. 2 Add 10 drops of lavender essential oil followed by the almond oil to the dry mixture. Combine the ingredients. 3 If you want to create floral bath bombs, now’s the time to add a couple of tablespoons of dried lavender. Stir continuously to make sure the…

Moving Mountains Plant-Based Sausages 4-pack SIMPLE SAUSAGE AND BEAN POT Serves 4 You will need ✽ 4 plant-based sausages ✽ 350g butternut squash, cut into chunks ✽ 1 red onion, cut into wedges ✽ 396g can cherry tomatoes ✽ 100ml balsamic vinegar ✽ 400g can cannellini beans, drained ✽ 2 rosemary sprigs How to do it 1 Heat the oven to 200C/Gas 6. Put the sausages, butternut squash and red onion into a large roasting tin. Roast in the oven for 30 mins. 2 Turn the sausages and veg, then add the tomatoes, vinegar, beans and rosemary and mix well. 3 Return to the oven for 15 mins until the squash is tender and everything is piping hot. DATE NIGHT DINNER TESCO FINEST MEAL DEAL Book a table for…

HAVE YOU HEARD? Amazon has announced the creation of a Counterfeit Crimes Unit, which will be responsible for finding and pursuing those attempting to sell fake goods on the site. It said the new unit would be a global team comprised of former prosecutors, investigators and data analysts. IF YOU DO ONE THING THIS WEEK… CUT THE COST OF A NEW BIKE If you’re one of the many people planning to buy a bike so you can cycle to work, check if your employer offers a Cycle to Work scheme. To find out how much you could save, visit cyclescheme.co.uk/ calculator. 3 ways to get cheaper home insurance Home insurance premiums have risen by more than a quarter in the past three years, according to research from MoneySuperMarket. Here’s how…

Public Health England has launched the Better Health campaign to support people to live healthier lives. It includes the NHS Weight Loss Plan, available online and via a new free app of the same name, to help people lose weight. The service provides the most up-to-date healthy-eating and physical-activity advice for users to kick-start their well-being with healthier choices. The app allows you to keep track of your calorie intake, portions of fruit and veg, and physical-activity level, plus teaches skills to prevent weight gain. • Download the NHS Weight Loss Plan app, or visit nhs.uk/BetterHealth for free tools and support to kick-start your health today…

MOSTLY As Flight, not fight You don’t manage conflict well – in fact, you’d rather avoid it. You’re not a fighter, but a runner. As soon as something gets tense or awkward, you find a way to escape. This is good to an extent, but it may come across as uncaring if you’re not willing to battle for friends when it comes to getting justice. MOSTLY Bs Sponge You’re a conflict sponge – you sit there and take it, sucking up all the negativity and conflicting opinions, even if you don’t agree with them. If this helps you to manage conflict healthily and achieve your own version of happiness, that’s great – but make sure not to overburden yourself with people’s negative emotions or become a pushover. MOSTLY Cs Fighter…

And it seems the couple have loved their time together so much that they're even thinking about starting a family. They have had their £1.3 million Essex home demolished, in order to start building their dream home that they could raise children in. Floor plans posted on the Epping Council website showed that the couple’s blueprints feature a huge swimming pool, a bar and make-up room – as well as a playroom. On starting a family, Mark has previously said, ‘We say we’re going to try every year, but something comes up with work. ‘So it’ll be Michelle filming in South Africa and then I got the job in Los Angeles – so we think, right, we’ll try next year. It’ll be around December or January, we’ll talk about it…

Normally at this time of year kids would be moping around dreading that back-to-school moment. After six weeks of fun with friends and holidays in the sun, the thought of an ill-fitting new uniform and endless homework holds little allure. This year, though, the rules are reversed. After months of enforced coronavirus inactivity, nearly every student from four to 22 is gagging to get back to class. And who can blame them? Being locked up with your parents is no one’s idea of fun, no matter how old you are. ‘What a mess we’ve created’ Britain’s kids have suffered enormously in this mad year. A generation of youngsters now face a lifetime of problems, and, yet, statistically, are the least to be affected by COVID. The exam results mess-up, the…

Cara Hearst, 29, lives in London with her husband Andrew, 30. When I felt unwell before Christmas 2009, the doctor thought it was glandular fever, while at 18, I assumed I’d been overdoing the party season. But then I started turning yellow and tests showed my liver was shutting down. Diagnosed with Wilson’s disease, I was told that, without a transplant, I had only days, if not hours, to live. It was terrifying, and I was having specialist treatment in London when the call came about Daryl’s liver. The 10-hour operation was a success, and I felt so incredibly lucky to get a second chance. When I found out I could write to my donor’s family, I had to let them know how grateful I was. When Lily replied, I…

My husband had an affair Q Last year my husband of seven years had an affair. At the time I forgave him, and we carried on, but the more time passes, the angrier I feel towards him. I don’t know what I want him to do, but I can’t stand that we’re pretending everything is fine and nothing has happened to us. Name and address withheld A Perhaps your husband is acting like this because he feels it’s what you want to happen. It sounds like you now want more acknowledgement of the affair and why it happened. The only way you will stop feeling angry is by being open about your feelings and telling your husband what you need from him to move on. I feel so old Q…

Sleep helps sore joints Living with arthritis? ‘Good-quality sleep can reduce inflammation and, therefore, pain,’ says GP Dr Alastair Dickson, working with GOPO Joint Health. ‘Create a strict bedtime routine by avoiding caffeine and alcohol.’ Scents can harm pets While banishing germs in the home, be careful around your pets. ‘Phthalates, sometimes listed as fragrance, are found in products used to make your home smell good,’ says Deyan Dimitrov from Laundryheap. ‘Make sure your pet is out of the room if you use them.’ Mushrooms for vitamin D One in four Brits don’t get enough vitamin D*, but mushrooms can help. ‘Place them in the windowsill on a sunny day and in an hour or two they become a source of vitamin D,’ says nutritionist Madeleine Shaw.…

Asda Asda’s own brand beauty range, nspa, is worth seeking out on your weekly shop. Packed with potent ingredients, it’s super-affordable too. If you’re new to the range, try Expert Nightly Revitalising Retinol Capsules, £12, for an anti-ageing boost of vitamin A and Expert Daily Rejuvenate Cream SPF30, £10, a softening day cream with sun protection that hydrates and protects your skin without any heaviness. Asda’s electrical range is incredibly affordable too, with this George at Asda Curling Wand. A snip at just £10, it works as well as more costly gadgets we’ve tried. Tesco Make a beeline for beauty basics at Tesco. Wipes, cotton wool and shower gel are obvious candidates to make it into your basket, but consider those little extras too. The Beauty Eyelash Curler creates defined,…

Research has found we get hornier during warmer weather – something we Brits have enjoyed a lot of this year, with temperatures upwards of 32C. ‘Sunlight has been shown to have an association with serotonin, a key neurotransmitter in the ability to experience pleasure,’ said Ashwini Nadkarni, psychiatrist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, US, and instructor at Harvard Medical School. With lockdown rules (currently) relaxing and the warmth continuing, is this Britain’s friskiest summer? We meet three women who admit they’re far randier during the summer months. ‘Summer sex is much more passionate’ ‘When I’m at the beach in a bikini, I can get naughty’ Victoria Gianetos, 27, is in a relationship and lives in north London. I’ve always associated lots of sex with hot weather – I…

GLEE , NETFLIX McKinley High School teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) takes over the glee club, whose misfit members want to banish their reputation as losers. He’s got his work cut out, especially while they’re under attack from ruthless cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch, above). WORK IT, NETFLIX American singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter plays Quinn Ackerman, a student with big ambitions. She hopes to get into the college of her dreams but first she must impress at a dance competition. To do this, she forms a ragtag group of dancers. The only problem is, Quinn needs to learn how to dance herself! HAMILTON, DISNEY+ Award-winning musical Hamilton had A-listers clamouring to see it when it opened. But, if you missed it (and most…

Aries 21 Mar – 20 Apr A friend says something that sparks your imagination. Note it down and mull it over, this could be the biggest idea you’ve ever had, one you’ve been waiting for. Taurus 21 Apr – 20 May Your confidence and attitude are coming together to make you a desirable lover. It could also set your love life on an upward trajectory. Reach for the stars! Gemini 21 May – 20 Jun Your relationship is hotting up! Discuss the hopes and dreams you see in your future, this will make a firm basis to progress and deepen your relationship. Cancer 21 Jun – 22 Jul Save your stress and frustration for another day, look up some healthy recipes, cut down on wine and chocolate. Getting fit will…

It’s been a challenging time for everyone thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. But arguably one of the strangest things about it was EastEnders coming off air for the first time in 35 years! Now, Emma Barton, who has played Honey Mitchell in the show for the past 15 years, on and off, has revealed what it’s like to be back on set. Emma, 43, also tells Woman’s Own how she’s spent her time off during lockdown focusing on her fitness, and why she’s going to be very nervous watching Strictly Come Dancing this year, after getting to the final with Anton du Beke last year… Hi Emma! What’s it like being back on the EastEnders set? It’s not weird, it’s just different. EastEnders have been brilliant – they’ve got all…