Innholdsfortegnelse for 7-Feb-2022 i Woman's Own

This week we’ve got a bumper issue for you, including five pages of the most drool-worthy chocolate treats (from p48) – a slice of that coffee chocolate layer cake would go down well with a cup of tea about now! That’s not to say I’d be making it myself – cooking spells chaos in my house, at least if I’m involved. That’s why, when it comes to chores, dinners never fall to me and I wouldn’t be brave enough to do what Natasha Harding has done (p58) and swap household jobs with her hubby for a week! One of the other features that struck me is about age-gap friends (p56). Some of my closest pals and favourite people are older than me and when we’re together we have the most…

As I added the finishing touches to an alphabet poster, I put it up on the wall with drawing pins and pointed out the letters to my sons Soren, five, and Axel, four. It was January 2021 and I was homeschooling the boys, as I’d always done. As ever, the room was peppered with boards and pictures I had collated for our lessons. Axel and Soren – or Axey and Soso as my husband Josh, 30, and I called them - were typical brothers, arguing over toys one minute and playing and giggling sweetly the next. Axel was energetic and confident, he loved diving in the dressing-up box and leaping around the house as Woody from Toy Story. On this particular day, he was excited about Soren’s upcoming sixth birthday.…

1 CLEANSE WITH CARE Cleansing can strip parched and sensitive skin of the essential oils it needs, so avoid foaming cleansers and opt for a nourishing balm or cream instead. 2 AVOID HEAT When you’re washing your face, turn the temperature down. Hot water is too much for stressed out skin to deal with, it will only end up more dehydrated. Keep it tepid and use a muslin cloth so that you are being as gentle as possible. 3 LAYER UP Protecting your skin from elements that make it sensitive – like cold weather and air conditioning – is just like protecting your body from the cold. You need a couple of light, but effective layers. Start with the lightest, like a serum, and end with the heaviest, like a…

Have you heard about? SMALL MOVES MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THE BRAIN A workout needn’t take hours to be beneficial. New research* shows that just 10 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (such as brisk walking) could improve both your mental health and your brain function. Getting physical increases blood flow to the part of the brain that plays an important role in controlling mood and mental skills, which includes our memory, flexible thinking and self-control. It worked for me Mel Knibb, 41, Hertfordshire ‘Hormonal blemishes came into my life over a decade ago and really knocked my confidence. They’re definitely linked to my periods and the perimenopause. Applying Silicolskin (£9.79 for 50ml, Superdrug) once a day for three or four days really helps calm the redness bulging under my skin.…

My mother has become controlling QI m 19 years old and at college. Despite this, mum makes me call home twice a day, and if I don’t, she panics and sends me dozens of voice messages. I find this and her constant need to know where I am and who I am with exhausting. My dad gets infuriated with her, too, and tells her to stop. I can’t take it any more. What do I do? A It sounds like your mother suffers from high levels of anxiety. The catastrophising and the fact she tries to control your life are ways of managing her stress and fears about you being away. You need to tell her exactly how you feel and ask your dad to strongly encourage her to seek…

KIM KARDASHIAN LAW STUDENT Kim Kardashian is following in the footsteps of her attorney father, Robert, who famously defended OJ Simpson during his 1995 murder trial. In December, the 41-year-old reality star proudly tweeted, ‘OMFGGGG I PASSED THE BABY BAR EXAM!!!!’ The baby bar is California’s first-year student law exam and is taken by aspiring lawyers who aren’t planning on going to an accredited law school. No freshers’ week fun for Kim! PHILLIP SCHOFIELD WINE MAKER He’s never made any secret of his love of wine, so it’s not hugely surprising that 59-year-old Phillip Schofield has released his own plonk. Ingeniously, his £10 bottle of organic Nero di Troia from Puglia, Italy, comes in a flat bottle made of recycled materials, so it can be ordered online and posted through…

Welcome to BECKHAM TOWERS! It seems a glittering football career, modelling campaigns and his own whisky aren’t enough for David Beckham. The star is updating his CV – and moving into the hotel business. While it all sounds a bit Basil Fawlty, unfortunately Becks won’t be haphazardly serving up kippers and eggs to guests, instead he’s lending a hand in designing 14 suites (which seems much less labour intensive!) for a luxurious hotel in Macao, China – where prices start at £580 a night. Part of The Londoner chain, each hotel room will ‘reflect the best of the star’s discerning style and sophistication and feature the comforts he enjoys when travelling’, including linens monogrammed with his initials – and, if that wasn’t enough, each room will boast a portrait…

Three years after her split from ex-husband Ray Fensome, Coleen Nolan finally moved on with Tinder date Michael Jones, but the Loose Women star has some doubts. When quizzed if the pair, who’ve been together for seven months, would move in together she revealed, ‘Not yet. Sometimes I think we should and an hour later I’ll have palpitations and say, “maybe not”.’ Because of her previous high-profile relationships and splits – she was married and had children with both Shane Richie and Ray Fensome – Coleen is conscious about doing things differently this time, revealing, ‘It’s the first time I’ve spoken about him as, normally, when I meet someone they’ve moved in within the week… this time round I wanted to keep it as private as possible.’ That isn’t to…

Mine was a blind date, but a friend and her husband came with us. She had set us up. She said to me, ‘You’re too nice a lady to be so sad. A friend of my husband is really jolly so, even if it doesn’t work out, you’ll have a real laugh and it will be lots of fun.’ I’ve never done any of the apps and the swiping, but I’ve got a lot of friends who do it and have a great time. I guess that’s like a blind date every time because you don’t know that person.…

IS NORMALITY ON THE HORIZON? But let’s take a moment to remember when a flask of tea could get you arrested… Well hello, shiny new month. The days are getting longer, the birds are singing louder and the Post Office is bracing itself for the flood of Valentine’s Day cards you’re set to receive. No, me neither, but we can pretend, eh? But the best thing about this February is that it really feels like the dreaded ‘c’ word is mutating into something much less scary and we can have all our freedoms back. Normal! Proper normal! ‘GOING TO THE LOO BECAME HIGH RISK’ While most of the rules set out by the government were crucial to limit the spread of the virus, it will be surprising how quickly we…

The smock frock Suitable for most body shapes, a printed midi dress is one of the easiest styles to throw on. Opt for versatile prints that will work all-year round to get maximum cost per wear. Team with a pair of on-trend chunky biker boots. TOP TIP Create curves and cinch in your middle with a waist belt. The comfy co-ord Knitted loungewear has fast become a wardrobe staple. Chic and cosy, matching co-ords offer a quick solution to nailing off-duty style. Wear together or separately for multiple outfit options, it offers maximum style points with minimal effort required. TOP TIP Subtle vertical stripes create a slimming effect. The on-trend tracksuit The athleisure trend is here to stay and tracksuits are no longer just for the gym. Look for slim-fit…

Watching as my wife Helen, then 34, took a penalty stroke, I erupted into cheers as the ball hit the back of the net, securing the win. ‘Go, Helen!’ I shouted, unable to contain my joy. I wasn’t part of the crowd watching Helen’s hockey match and cheering her on, though – I was part of her team. And, that day in 2016, we’d made history in more ways than one. My love affair with hockey had begun in 1992, when I was 12 years old. ‘Can’t you play in the garden?’ my mum Barbara would protest as my sister Rachel, then 10, and I chased a ball around our hall, bashing our hockey sticks on the wooden floor. ‘I CONNECTED WITH HELEN ON A DEEPER LEVEL’ But Mum didn’t…

It’s not called a ‘common’ cold for nothing – most adults catch two or three colds a year and for children, many more. Caused by a virus, it’s not serious, but it can make you feel terrible with aching muscles, shivers, blocked sinuses and a sore throat. The virus spreads easily. When someone sneezes, around 40,000 droplets are expelled from the nose, which can travel up to 30ft. Those then sit on surfaces for up to three hours, ready to infect the next person who touches them. So, when we’re being more vigilant than ever, what do these GPs do to avoid catching the sniffles? ‘I take the flu shot every year’ Dr Houda Ounnas, private GP (drhoudaounnas.com) ✣ WEAR A MASK We’re all used to wearing a mask in…

1 STOP YOUR ALL-OR-NOTHING THINKING Anxious people tend to catastrophise. Every time you catch yourself doing this, stop, breathe and challenge your thoughts. 2 DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR ANXIETY You may be an anxious person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find coping mechanisms to help lower your stress. These could be simple things such as limiting your alcohol and caffeine intake, getting enough sleep or even counting to 10 slowly. 3 DOWNLOAD THE ANXIETY RELIEF HYPNOSIS APP Whether you believe in hypnosis or not, this app has tools and techniques to help soothe your anxiety. Free on android; in-app purchases available. CONTACT ANITA Send your questions to askanita@futurenet.com, follow her on Twitter @AnitaNaik, or go to anitanaik.com…

A spokesperson for The Survivors Trust, a charity that offers support and advice to victims of sexual assault and abuse, says: ‘Every survivor’s experience of sexual violence or abuse is valid and deserving of support. Regardless of what or when it happened, no survivor should have to feel alone. There is help available. ‘The Survivors Trust’s free, confidential helpline (0808 801 0818) and Live Chat service is available to anyone affected by sexual violence or abuse. Our trained helpline volunteers will support you through difficult emotions and can provide information about support options. We also welcome calls from family, friends and professionals working with survivors. ‘We want to remind every survivor that they are not to blame for what happened. We believe you and we’re here for you.’ ❉ To…

‘I’m just so thankful to be pregnant’ Lynsey Carratt, 40, works in PR and lives in east London with her husband James, 40. Watching as two lines appeared on the pregnancy test, I hardly dared to breathe. I’d turned 40 two weeks earlier, after struggling to get pregnant for two years. My 40th birthday had been a boozy blowout, taking the focus off conceiving. How could it have finally happened? In my 20s and early 30s, I was too busy having fun to think about kids. Then, in 2014, I fell for my neighbour James and, a month after we married in August 2019, we started trying for a baby. For six months, every time my period arrived, I was gutted. In February 2020, my GP referred us to a…

1 SPRUCE IT UP ‘Give your walls a fresh coat of neutral paint; it will make your home seem lighter and bigger,’ advises Angela. ‘Another benefit is that if a potential buyer thinks the recent redecoration will save them a job when they move in, it may make it a more attractive property to them. And spend time decluttering; this will make your rooms appear to be more spacious,’ she adds. 2 HAVE A DEEP CLEAN ‘If you’re putting your house on the market, give it a deep clean first,’ says Angela. ‘If your carpets have marks such as muddy shoe prints, you could see a huge difference if you get them properly cleaned. Do you have a friend with a carpet cleaning machine they’ll lend you? If not, you…

Whether it’s taking out the bins, changing the beds, emptying the laundry basket or stacking the dishwasher, looking after a home is a time-consuming business. And, as I hung out the washing one morning, I started to wonder whether household jobs are shared evenly between couples? Surely some are more time-consuming and trickier than others? I decided to put this to the test with my husband Paul, 51. I work as a journalist and yoga teacher, while Paul runs a wholesale business, and along with looking after our children Zak, 15, and eight-year-old Lexi, we run a very busy household. I like to think Paul and I share the chores pretty evenly – although, like most couples, we both feel hard done by at times. I always say if we…

After losing out on loads of performing work during the pandemic, former X Factor and musicals star Ray Quinn now makes his living as a carpet alongside brothers, Robin and Darren. Katie Jarvis was in EastEnders from 2018 to 2019, but struggled to find more acting roles,  a as a security guard at her local B&M store. Despite an appearance on The X Factor: Celebrity  in 2019 and a brief return to Hollyoaks in 2020, Jeremy Edwards mainly makes his living as a labourer these days.…

Catching sight of Mickey Mouse, I felt a flush of happiness as my precious little boy squealed in delight and raced towards the famous Disney character. ‘Mummy, it’s really him,’ James, then three, cried as he wrapped his arms around Mickey’s waist and hugged him. It was May 2018, and with the gentle Florida sunshine warming my face, I couldn’t tear my eyes from the joy on my little boy’s face. James was starting school in September and my husband Matt, then 47, and I had wanted to give him a brilliant holiday before his first day. That’s why we had splashed out on a fortnight’s trip to Disney World and had even splurged on premium economy seats so we could travel in style. Some might say buying expensive airline…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Focus on family, giving them your spare time so you all enjoy yourselves. Show your nearest and dearest who you truly are. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May With Mercury making presence , you will be having in-depth discussions. Some of your family will be confused. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Your desire for alone time could be helpful, as you recharge. Finding a bargain may stir up a creative hobby. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul This week s strong celestial energy helps you realise time is too precious. Make changes necessary around savings at home. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug The full moon will enter your sign, bringing with it the urge to surprise your family. Try a fun night…

LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FUNNY MAMMY BANTER: THE SECRET LIFE OF AN UNCOOL MUM  by Serena Terry (£14.99, HarperCollins, HB) How did Tara Gallagher go from being an aspiring Beyoncé to an exhausted mum of three? Her dreams of headlining Coachella have been replaced by the rather unglamorous realities of motherhood, with most Friday evenings spent on the sofa watching Gogglebox. It’s time for Tara to take matters into her own hands, spicing up her life with a complete mammy makeover. She’ll sparkle at her boring job, impress her teenage daughter and show her husband she’s still an absolute catch – all while channelling her inner diva. Honest and laugh-out-loud funny. MURDER MYSTERY WE KNOW YOU REMEMBER  by Tove Alsterdal (£14.99, Faber & Faber, HB) When Lina Stavred went missing in the Swedish…

Louis Ashbourne Serkis ‘WORKING WITH SHERIDAN SMITH WAS A DREAM!’ Theyoungactoronstarringin newITVdrama No Return… ‘IT’S POWERFUL, TOPICAL AND TENSION-FILLED’ When we go abroad for a week or two of fun in the sun, the worst we can expect to happen to us is a terrible hangover or an upset tummy. But what happens to the family in ITV drama No Return is far worse when they end up on the holiday from hell. In the four-parter, Sheridan Smith plays Kathy, whose world is turned upside down when her son Noah is arrested after returning from a seemingly innocent beach party. ‘Noah is dragged away for reasons they don’t yet understand,’ says Louis Ashbourne Serkis, who plays the teenager. ‘They have no idea why this has happened, but as the days…

NO FUN IN THE SUN After kicking off the new year with the Beeb’s gripping Four Lives, Sheridan Smith is back in ITV’s No Return, which, as featured opposite, is about a family’s holiday nightmare. Sheridan tells me she has fond memories of her own fly-and-flops in the sun, ‘I love an all-inclusive,’ she says, hinting of a story for another time. ‘But this ends up as the holiday from hell. I think many parents will say, “Thank God I’m not in their shoes.”’ CELEB ON THE FARM! Singer Russell Watson is touring the UK in Chicago– and when he’s not, he can be found mucking out on his new farm. ‘It’s basically a petting zoo,’ he tells me. ‘We’re actually looking at some sheep to buy this week. We…

Perhaps both the funniest and most shocking news you’ve heard so far this year.… On her hen night, hosted by her sister Pippa, the Duchess of Cambridge dressed up as former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl and put on a performance as the pop star. Yes, really. Cheryl says Prince William dropped the bombshell at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012, jokingly asking, ‘Did you know you’ve got a bit of competition?’. Cheryl says a giggling Kate admitted she, ‘dressed up as me, in a bodysuit and split trousers, and sang Fight For This Love. ‘She even learnt the dance routine and was step-perfect by all accounts, as her sister Pippa and brother James also came over and told me all about it.’ We don’t know what’s most impressive, the…

Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash’s decision to push their wedding back a year seems to have left the Loose Women star doubting whether to get married at all. The couple were due to tie the knot last year after finally getting engaged in 2020 – five years into their relationship – but announced they’d be postponing the wedding after Stacey fell pregnant with their second child together. At the time, Stacey, 32, confessed, ‘We both said we’d be a bit gutted to look back at pictures and all of our babies weren’t there. So, for the sake of a few months, we will do it when they’re all here.’ But fast-forward a year, with Stacey often playfully poking fun at her fiancé on social media, is there trouble in paradise?…

HERO SWEATER Clothing that gives back to The Brain Tumour charity. Jumper, £30, thebraintumourcharityfashion.co.uk TAKE THE BEAD Give your dining table an instant lift. Coasters, £19.50, Oliver Bonas EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL A classic tote bag. Bag, £32, Accessorize DEPENDABLE DENIM Puff sleeves and a belt? Sold! Dress, £59, sizes 6-16, warehousefashion.com BRUSH STROKES OPI Malibu Nail Polish Infinite Shine Long-wear in Dusk til Dune, £15.95, feelunique.com ICE, ICE BABY Add a cool blue beanie to your wardrobe. Hat, £6.99, H&M COLOUR CLASH Combine pastel pink and navy blue for an interiors refresh. Vase, £30, candle, £10, mirror, £10, all Matalan FIND YOUR LOBSTER A fluffy treat for your feet. Slippers, £35, Wolf & Badger WING IT Make an interiors statement. Cushion, £30, laredoute.co.uk LOVE LETTERS These personalised make-up bags make great…

Super simple ‘When I’ve overdone it with my active skincare ingredients, like Retinol, my skin can turn a bit red and feel a bit sensitive to the touch. That’s when I reach for CeraVe Moisturising Cream, £9, lookfantastic.com. It’s like a pair of slippers for your face. It contains ceramides that help strengthen the surface of the skin and gets my skin back to looking normal again. This may come in simple packaging, but wow, does it work.’ Sarah Added SPF ‘I don’t leave the house without SPF on, and neither should you, but if you’re looking for a side of hydration and ingredients that are going to soothe your skin, let me introduce you to elf Holy Hydration! Broad Spectrum SPF30, £14, elfcosmetics.co.uk. This whipped mousse-like day cream contains…

Helen, 40, says: ‘Winning the Olympic gold was a truly amazing experience. It made us the first same-sex married couple to win at the Olympics and the first married couple to take gold since Cyril and Dorothy Wright in 1920. ‘It was a really important moment for us as a couple, and a turning point for LGBTQ athletes worldwide. ‘But the best thing was the reaction we had from the public, and helping people to feel more confident in themselves. ‘Now, if you’ve got a boyfriend, girlfriend or are married, it’s a non-issue. It’s not a taboo, it’s just part of who we are. It makes me proud of my sport.’…

CRUSTY NOSE IS SO SORE QI have a sore area inside my nose that crusts over and then bleeds. I think it may be linked to having to wear a mask all the time. I have tried putting antiseptic cream on it, but it just won’t go. I know how busy the surgery is, so I don’t want to bother them with something so trivial. Do you have any suggestions as to what I should do next? A This is something your GP may be happy to deal with over the phone. You probably need a special cream called Naseptin, which is only available on prescription. You apply it to the area with a cotton bud and it should heal very quickly. Anxiety is taking over my life Q During…

Throughout life we make and lose hair, with 50-100 hairs lost daily as part of the normal growth cycle. But, as we age, we make less hair and its quality declines, which can lead to thinning or even balding. ‘For many, hair loss can increase at around 40 years old,’ says Stephen Garfit, consultant trichologist at the Leeds Trichology Clinic. ‘This is usually seen in a loss of density, reduction of ponytail volume or widening of the parting.’ Pattern baldness doesn’t only affect men – women can experience balding over the crown of the head, too. It’s not fully understood why some people go bald and others don’t, but genetics play a large role. Age, stress, weight loss, a poor diet, hormones and even illness can also cause hair loss…

Lip enhancer ‘Wearing a lip colour that enhances your natural lip tone will give you a really fresh, healthy look with minimal make-up,’ says Lan. ‘Give your lips a light scrub with some tissue or an old toothbrush. This brings the blood to the surface. Match a lip colour to that and make sure it has a hint of balm or sheen to bring some extra life to your look.’ We love: Lanolips Tinted Balm SPF30 in Rhubarb, £8.99, cultbeauty.co.uk Prep with primer ‘Asian skin can often be oily or combination with enlarged pores, so a primer is a must to reduce the size of pores and help create skin with a blurred effect, like film star Gemma Chan’s. It will give your foundation something to adhere to so your…

Coffee chocolate layer cake with rose-scented ganache SERVES 12 The flavours of the Middle East work gorgeously with cocoa. Here, cardamom-infused Turkish coffee and the fragrance of Turkish delight in an intense chocolate cake. The result is delicious. YOU WILL NEED 250g plain flour 1½tsp bicarbonate of soda ½tsp fine sea salt ½tsp finely ground cardamom seeds 200g 70% dark chocolate, grated or blitzed in a food processor 90g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 120ml vegetable oil 400g caster sugar 4 eggs, lightly beaten 2tsp vanilla extract 240ml hot, strong espresso For the ganache: 200g 70% dark chocolate, chopped 250ml double cream 20g caster sugar ½tsp rosewater For the coffee buttercream: 150g unsalted butter, softened 300g icing sugar, sifted 1tbsp instant coffee granules dissolved in 1tbsp boiling water Edible…

DELICIOUS DRINKS Biotiful Plant-based Oat Kefir Drinks, 250 ml (Sainsbury’s) These dairy-free Oat Kefir drinks can be enjoyed on their own or poured over breakfast cereal. Each bottle contains billions of gut-friendly cultures. Available in three flavours – Original, Strawberry and Mango. BAG A BURGER Lean & Greens ‘The Original’ 2 Turkey & Plant-based Patties, 200g (Tesco) Made with lean British turkey, blended with kale, apple and caramelised onions, these make a quick and tasty dinner. Offer also available on ‘The Mediterranean’ 2 Chicken & Plant-Based Patties (200g). SNACK ATTACK Fruit Bowl Strawberry Peelers, (5x16g) (Co-op) Made from concentrated apple and strawberry purées and fruit juices, these are a great for snacking on. Offer also available on Raspberry Peelers (5x16g). LOVELY LEAVES Florette Classic Crispy Salad 170g, (Waitrose & Partners)…

NATASHA SAYS: ‘Shh, whisper it quietly. The thing I’ve realised this week is that Paul’s jobs seem to require a lot more heavy lifting than mine! The rubbish and recycling, the logs, the DIY – they’re all more physically demanding than the things I do.’ PAUL SAYS: ‘Natasha thinks ahead far more than I do, which seems to keep the house running smoothly. When I was in charge of the shopping, I spent so much time – and money – during the week in the local shop because we seemed to run out of everything. I didn’t realise how much milk we go through, for example, because we’re always stocked up!’…

Since I was a teenager, I’ve loved experimenting with my hair, and am not afraid to use it as a way to express myself. Whether it was a 1980s classic perm, or Farrah Fawcett’s famous gravity-defying locks of the 1970s, I tried them all whenever I had the chance, often to my parents’ dismay. As a baby, I had blonde, curly locks, but over the years, my natural hair colour became darker, and I loved going back to blonde when I could. Once an aspiring vocalist and songwriter, I’m now a writer for my business, My Beautiful Pen. From pen to perm, I have always been creative and, as you’ll see, there’s a story behind every hairstyle. 1979 EMULATING FARRAH I’ve always had fine hair, and used to wish…