Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, April 3, 2023 i Woman's Own

This week it’s a bumper issue with 32 extra pages, including some very welcome money-saving know-how (which we could all use right about now!). We’ve got how to save on your weekly shop (p61), an Easter feast for less than £6 per person (p48), bargain home buys (p70), new-season shoes from £5.95 (p18), and five affordable city breaks on p68 (who would you take?). Plus, my favourite – how to treat yourself to an at-home pamper session on a budget (p40). We’re all no doubt in need of a bit of relaxation (and some help to soothe aching muscles) and our brilliant Beauty team has the perfect self-care guide, minus the hefty price tag. Who doesn’t love a facial?! Enjoy, and have a great week. KIRA AGASS, EDITOR The Woman’s…

The trousers High-waisted, wide-leg trousers are particularly flattering on hourglass and pear-shaped figures. The high waistband accentuates your smallest part, while the wide-leg design provides balance and proportion to the hip and thigh area. Wear with a colour coordinating tee and on-trend mules. TOP TIP For a smarter look, add a fitted blazer. The dress This must-have, gorgeous dress will make a great addition to any wardrobe. Versatile and feminine, it can be styled in many ways. A pair of slip-on loafers are perfect for weekend chic, while a pair of white trainers and a denim jacket make for a great staycation outfit. The balloon-style sleeves can be rolled up or down with ease. TOP TIP For dressier occasions, swap the flats for heeled sandals. The shirt Gently ease yourself…

Have you heard about? BEING LATE MAKES YOU HAPPIER Always running behind schedule? It might just be your greatest asset, says new research*. Findings showed that those who are often late are usually calmer and more optimistic, which helps fight high blood pressure and associated health problems, such as heart disease. Participant follow-ups, taken 15 and 40 years later, found those with an optimistic outlook had a longer lifespan, too. It worked for me Tracey McGuire, 49, West Midlands ‘I would come back from walking the dogs and sneeze constantly. I also had a very runny nose, even when I was using my nasal spray and taking antihistamines. I now use HayMax Organic Drug-Free Allergen Barrier Balm (£7.55, Boots), which I rub around my nostrils to trap pollen. I enjoy…

We can’t stand each other Q My marriage of 10 years is over, through a range of issues, including huge debt, a one-night stand and resentment about being left to do everything. We are both so angry, to the point that we can barely be in the same room. The problem is that we have two daughters, four and eight, and we want to co-parent, but I can’t see a way forward. What do we do? A People change and fall out of love, but that doesn’t mean you have to declare war on each other. It will take work and effort, but you can still co-parent if you put the kids first. This means having rules, such as not bad-mouthing each other and ensuring that communication about the kids…

The last three years have been tough for everyone, but the cost-of-living crisis has hit the over-50s the hardest, according to new research from the University of Edinburgh. I’m 53, and I’ve noticed that my money is buying less even though I’ve cut outgoings down to the essentials. I live with my partner, John, 62, and recently we’ve had to use our savings to pay for building work on our home. I need to try harder to save money, especially as I’m self-employed, so over the course of a week I’ve scrutinised every pound I spend. Here’s how I got on… MONDAY When cash is tight, it’s tempting to cancel insurance payments to reduce your monthly bills. Even though my dog Molly, who’s 10, is rarely ill I’ve kept her…

Asda Extra Special Extra Thick Raspberry & Marshmallow White Chocolate Egg, 400g, £7, Asda Thick, milky and smooth white chocolate with hints of crisp raspberries, this is an elegantly-designed egg for those of you with a super-sweet tooth. Kids’ novelty treats £5 AND UNDER Percy Pig and Colin Caterpillar Giant Choc Faces, 170g, £5 each, M&S A giant version of everyone’s favourite pig (and caterpillar), in chocolate form. Great value for money and fun for the kids. Butterm!lk Choccy Bunny (vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free), 115g, £3.50, available in most supermarkets The chocolate is generously thick on these bunnies and it has a real creaminess – you’d never know they’re free-from. We were definitely impressed. Asda Special Delivery Truck Egg, 100g, £3 Packaged as a simple, fun concept, this is a great…

MONEY SAVING SPECIAL…

KAYE ADAMS Before her 60th birthday last December, Kaye was fearful of reaching the milestone. She even told her children she was younger than she was. But now the Loose Woman has decided to embrace her age, and has marked her birthday by getting a tattoo. It reads, ‘Over 21,’ a tribute to her mum, who would only reply, ‘Over 21,’ when asked her age. Does that mean you won’t have to carry ID around any more, Kaye? SIR IAN MCKELLEN To celebrate his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings films, Sir Ian joined castmates Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd and Orlando Bloom as they got matching tattoos. He explained the tat was Elvish for ‘nine’. ‘But actually, I read it upside down and it seems…

Christine OPEN AND HONEST Christine McGuinness broke down in tears as she admitted to feeling petrified and ‘really unhappy’ in her new documentary, Unmasking My Autism. The 35-year-old heartbreakingly opened up about experiencing sexual abuse, her recent autism diagnosis and split from husband Paddy, 49, as she discussed starting a new chapter. Christine, who announced she was separating from the father of her children – twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and Felicity, six – in July 2022, shared, ‘Starting life on my own is scary… I was only 19 when I met Patrick and for the last 15 years my role has been wife and mum. When I was diagnosed, I set out on a journey to find out who I was.’ She continued, ‘I have separated from my husband…

Chloe Madeley, 35, is the first to admit that she’s extremely close to her father, GMB star Richard Madeley, 66. However, her bond with mum Judy Finnigan, 74, has strengthened beyond recognition. The fitness star welcomed baby daughter Bodhi back in August with husband James Haskell, 37. In recent months, Bodhi has been unwell, with Chloe rushing her to hospital twice. Here, the star gives us an update on Bodhi’s health, her relationship with Richard and Judy, and how she’s coped with being a first-time mum. Hi Chloe, how’s life with Bodhi? We’ve just started sleep training, so she’s now sleeping 10 hours through the night. She hit sleep regression in month four and she never came out of it again. By month five, I was hanging on by a…

CHILD-FREE AND CAREFREE The number of women not having children, whether by choice or not, is on the rise. Office for National Statistics figures show that among women who turned 45 in 2021, almost one in five – 18% – were childless. That’s a fairly big increase on their mothers’ generation. Experts explain this by saying that the obstacles to having children keep growing, while the stigma of being childless has more or less disappeared. And I should know – neither the husband nor I ever wanted kids and our childless status has always been accepted. Add in the cost of bringing up a child – £200,000 until the age of 18 – plus more women working and settling down later, and it all makes sense. Plus with the Earth…

Kissing behind the sports hall, I knew Wayne Clarke was not like the other boys at school: he was shy and polite, and smelt lovely – of Yves Saint Laurent aftershave. At only 13, our romance was sweet and innocent. We were too young for proper dates. We didn’t have enough pocket money to go to the cinema, so school and the local park were our hang-outs. Six months into our teenage romance though, Wayne and I split when I moved schools. ‘I’ll miss you,’ he told me. ‘Until we meet again.’ I didn’t see him again though until I was 19 and popped into a menswear shop in Birmingham. By this time I was married with a baby, so I didn’t let on that I’d clocked him working there.…

Brush up Body brushing is not just an invigorating, circulation-boosting way to start the day, but will help drain away puffiness, reduce cellulite and refine skin texture too. Work in short, almost flicking, motions up your arms and legs towards your torso, then repeat with longer, sweeping strokes. If you use your body brush on dry skin before you hop into the bath or shower, you’ll get extra exfoliating benefits as well. Try The Body Shop Round Body Brush, £10. Top up the tub Make time for lounging in warm water as it’s great for treating both your body and mind. And added extras will help make it even more effective. Lush’s Salt Water Soother Bath Bomb, £5, uses Epsom salts to create super soft water and peppermint, spearmint and…

Dancing with my friends at a beach party in Ibiza, I felt incredible. It was September 2022 and we were celebrating my friend’s birthday. This trip had been a long time coming, something I’d been looking forward to for ages. When we’d planned it months earlier, I’d decided to use it as a goal. I’d wanted to lose weight in time for the holiday and spend the days showing off my new figure in a bikini. And now, here I was doing just that. ‘IT’S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME’ I’d battled with my weight for years. After having my children, Nathan in 2003 and Niamh in 2004, I weighed around 13st. I joined WeightWatchers and lost 3st, but then I stopped going to the meetings and gradually old…

Bulk up meals on a budget Three foody tricks to help make meals stretch further without overspending 1 EGGS Mixing scrambled egg into rice, adding boiled egg to salads or sandwiches or serving a fried egg on top of your food will make your meal much more filling without overpowering the taste. 2 PULSES Buy lentils in bulk at lower prices and they can be used in many meaty meals to bulk them up without changing the texture or flavour of the food. This is also a great way to add more fibre. 3 OATS As well as using them to make porridge, oats can be added in much the same way as lentils to sauce-based meals like bolognese and chilli to reduce the meat content and cost of a…

Reaching for the dark camel coat hanging on the clothes rail, I felt a ripple of excitement. Looking at the label, I couldn’t believe what I’d found – a beautiful Chloe trench coat that would cost hundreds of pounds to buy new, but was just £6 in this charity shop. ‘It’s my size!’ I squealed to my mum, 77. ‘I’ve always said that’s the beauty of charity shops, you never know what bargains you’ll find,’ she said. It was June 2012 and after years of Mum trying to convince me to give charity shops a try, I’d finally agreed. She’d always been a fan of second-hand shops, but as a fashion-conscious teen in the 1990s, I worried kids at school would tease me for wearing second-hand clothes, so rarely joined…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows. Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch Thomas W Holley of Holyoke, Massachusetts, is claimed by some to be the inventor of which item of stationery? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CHALKCLIPCOMPASSCRAYONENVELOPEGLUEINKNOTEPADPAPERPENRUBBERRULERSCISSORSSTAMPSTAPLER CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Dark and _, rum cocktail (6)4 Rope-pulling contest (3-2-3)10 Main roads (9)11 Ogle (3,2)12 Strainer (5)13 The breed of 1 Down’s dog, Santa’s Little Helper (9)14 Sleepwear (7)16 See 1 Down (4)19 See 1 Down (4)21 _ Skinner, teacher and nemesis of 19 Across (7)24 Referred to previously (9)25 Field border (5)26 Montgomery _, 25 Down’s boss at the nuclear power plant…

Film DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOUR AMONG THIEVES Out in cinemas 31 March A starry cast, including Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page and Hugh Grant, bring the famous game phenomenon to life in a sweeping comic-action epic as a band of thieves set out to steal an ancient artefact and unleash evil. Expect plenty of eye-popping spectacle and banter. Show A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE Until 6 May 2023, Phoenix Theatre, London. Tickets from £65, age 14+ Normal People star and Oscar nominee Paul Mescal stars as Stanley in Tennessee Williams’ classic play. When Blanche (Patsy Ferran) unexpectedly visits her estranged sister Stella (Anjana Vasan), will her past threaten their future? Event MICHAEL BUBLÉ HIGHER UK TOUR Until 11 May 2023. Tickets from £64 Mickey Bubbles treats fans to quite a show as…

BEN AFFLECK Joining the many celebs who’ve put their pride to one side to grab cash from some of the world’s biggest brands, Ben Affleck, 50, has been spotted in a tongue-in-cheek commercial for US fast-food chain Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts). Oscar-winner Ben asks a customer, ‘Do I look familiar?’ in the skit, where he’s seen working at a drive-through. The ad, which premiered during the NFL Super Bowl in February, also includes a cameo from Ben’s wife, Jennifer Lopez, 53, who turns up at the joint asking why he’s there, before adding, ‘Is this what you do when you say you’re going to work all day?’ At least they can look back and squirm about it together! OZZY OSBOURNE Who butter (geddit?!) than an ageing rocker to front your…

Answering question after question about my property business it would be easy to assume I was at a job interview. But, in fact, I was sitting in a restaurant, slowly tucking into my main course, being interrogated by my date. Not just any date, my first date in 16 years. It was going terribly and I was beginning to question why I had even bothered putting myself out there in the first place. It was February 2022, and Dan* and I had got talking online months previously after he sent me a message about the holiday snaps I’d posted on my social media. He’d been following me for a while, liking the occasional photo here and tweet there and when he finally sent me a direct message, the conversation flowed…

She was once a little-known reality star who saw herself voted out second in the 2002 series of Big Brother. But just two decades later, Alison Hammond’s career is snowballing beyond recognition and it seems she could be ready to take Holly Willoughby’s crown as the golden girl of TV. Her work schedule is bursting with opportunities. She’s recently signed up to take over from Matt Lucas as a presenter on C4’s The Great British Bake Off and we’ve seen her rub shoulders with royalty and Hollywood superstars alike. And with audiences seemingly unable to get enough is it simply a matter of time before she becomes ITV’s golden girl? SIGHTS ON HOLLYWOOD? The Brummie-born presenter is a natural on screen, whether she’s chatting to members of the public or…

£10 AND UNDER WARDROBE WINNER Add some French style with a chic embroidered Breton. T-shirt, £9.99, sizes xs-xxl, H&M EMBELLISH EASTER Decorate your home with these painted glass baubles. £10 for pack of three, M&S GOLDEN HOLD Sip your brew in style. Cup, £3.99, H&M BOLD BLOOMS Clash with bright stripes or tie around your bag. Scarf, £9.99, H&M TABLE TOPPER We love speckled porcelain. Candlestick holder, £8.99, Anyday at John Lewis FLORAL FRESH With prices this low, you can give your bouquet in a vase. Vase, £8, cushion £10, both George Home SWEET TREATS Such adorable packaging! Marzipan eggs, £10, Niederegger at John Lewis POSH WASH Luxe up your bathroom or kitchen sink. Dispenser, £5, Dunelm WOVEN WONDER Elevate your everyday dinner table. Place mat, £5, Ikea SITTING…

MY STOOLS ARE LOOSE Q Recently, I had food poisoning, which gave me rampant diarrhoea and made me feel very unwell. I’m over the worst of it now, but still have very loose stools. My GP says I’m no longer infectious and that this will settle, but is there anything I can do to speed up my recovery? A Our gut contains trillions of good bacteria, which help us digest our food. This is called the microbiome. When bad bacteria that cause food poisoning enter our gut, the body reacts by expelling them in diarrhoea but, of course, that also means we lose some of the good bacteria resulting in ongoing loose stools. Try topping up your microbiome with a good quality daily probiotic. What can help meno migraines? Q…

Ever had zero recollection of a conversation or TV show, because you were distracted by your restless mind the whole time? If you struggle to be in the moment on a regular basis, you may be a chronic overthinker. Perhaps today you’ve replayed a recent embarrassing incident over and over again in your mind, or you’ve spent hours agonising over a decision that you made years ago. Having a brain that doesn’t switch off is tiring and stressful. ‘It’s why the phrase “mental exhaustion” was coined,’ says psychotherapist Owen O’Kane*. Left unchecked, this can lead to anxiety and depression. So here’s how to break unhelpful thought cycles and quiet your racing mind… Spot the signs of overthinking Our minds are designed to think, so how can you tell if your…

The menu Serves 8 with leftovers For the main: ✽ Rolled pork roast with crispy crackling On the side: ✽ Crushed potatoes with feta ✽ Roasted fennel and carrots ✽ Cheesy cauliflower and kale gratin To finish: ✽ Meringue stack pavlova The main event… Rolled pork roast with crispy crackling SERVES 8, £2.06 PER SERVING If you find yourself feeding a crowd this Easter, pork belly is an affordable and tasty way to please the masses. YOU WILL NEED 1.8kg pork belly, bone removed For the stuffing: 2tsp fennel seeds1tbsp olive oil, for frying1 onion, finely chopped2 garlic cloves, crushed200g pork mince1 medium egg, beaten1 apple, grated Small handful sage leaves, finely chopped4tbsp breadcrumbs45g nuts, roughly chopped (almonds, walnuts or pistachios) Juice and zest ½ lemon¼tsp fresh nutmeg, grated HOW…

READER QUESTION Q I would like to make some overpayments on my mortgage but how do I know what the benefits would be? A Try using a mortgage overpayment calculator like Yorkshire Building Society’s (ybs.co.uk). It lets you input your current mortgage amount, remaining mortgage term and monthly payments. You can then add how much you’d like to overpay as a regular amount or lump sum and it will calculate how much interest you would save and how much faster you would pay your mortgage off. But do make sure your mortgage lets you make overpayments and whether there are any limits before going ahead. Go green for less Get 10% off your first order of body and homecare products at Hubble & Bubble, including this Ocean Spa Soap (100g)…

Athens, Greece Why: Last year the Post Office named Athens the best-value city break in Europe, taking into account accommodation, eating out and sightseeing costs. And it truly is a thrifty place to visit. From street-food stalls selling souvlaki to family restaurants, it’s easy to find meals for under £10 per head. If you’re a shopper, Monastiraki Flea Market is brimming with cut-price souvenirs. Meanwhile, just wandering the cobbled streets of the historic Plaka district feels like sightseeing – especially as you’ll snag free glances towards the world-famous Acropolis. Cheap eat: For more than a century, Ariston (10 Voulis Street) has made deliciously affordable hot savoury pies (pita). Thrifty stay: Athens Center Square Hotel (athenscenter squarehotel.gr; double rooms from £73) is in a prime location close to many top sights.…

And… relax28 March-3 April 2023 ASK ALEX A ‘WHAT IS MY HOROSCOPE TODAY?’ ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr A trip to the garden centre inspires a new colour scheme and perhaps a new barbecue and some exotic plants. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May It’s a great time to talk finances, as Mercury enters your sign. You could find a little investment brings about a great reward. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Think about your life in terms of structure, and take the initiative now to do something you have always wanted to do. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Allow yourself extra time during this week’s strong celestial energy to complete your tasks. Keep one eye on the clock. LEO 23 Jul – 22 Aug…

THE ISLAND OF LONGING by Anne Griffin (£16.99, Hodder & Stoughton, HB) Eight years have passed since Rosie’s daughter went missing. She can’t forget the last afternoon that Saoirse cycled into town, before her bike was discovered abandoned. The girl was never found. Now almost a decade later, her mother is the only person who remains hopeful that Saoirse is still alive. Having grown apart from her husband, Rosie leaves Dublin for her childhood home of Roaring Bay Island, where she and her father captain their family’s ferry. With a fresh perspective, Rosie faces an impossible question – is it finally time to let go? Anne Griffin’s exquisite novel explores unimaginable loss and the solace we find in human connection. THE LODGER by Helen Scarlett (£18.99, Quercus, HB) London, 1919.…

Freema Agyeman ‘I COULDN’T WAIT TO GET STARTED’ The former Doctor Who star on her latest TV role… Freema Agyeman is best known for playing Martha Jones in the David Tennant days of Doctor Who and Alesha Phillips in ITV1’s legal drama Law & Order: UK. ‘IT’S VERY BRITISH!’ Yet for the past eight years, the London-born actor has been living and working in the US, where she’s had roles in hit TV series New Amsterdam and Sense8, and Hollywood blockbuster The Matrix Resurrections. Now Freema’s back on British TV starring alongside Lily Allen, Frances Barber and Sheila Reid in the new comedy drama Dreamland, which follows four sisters in the seaside town of Margate. ‘Working back in the UK was something I’d become increasingly interested in,’ she says. ‘Once…