Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, October 16, 2023 i Woman's Own

Are you a jacket fiend? (I know one of those!)? Dress fanatic? (Guilty!) On the hunt for cowboy boots on a budget? On p16 we’ve got all those gems for you, and more! But it’s not just your wardrobe on the agenda this week… How often do you fantasise about having limitless cash to spruce up your home? (Or better yet, winning the lottery and splurging on a completely new one!) Well, while we can’t help you with that, on p40 we’ve got some brilliant buys that will help add something a little extra to your abode, and are sure to light up your life that bit more! Anything that can do that has got to be good news – after all, life can be quite stressful. On p26 we’ve…

CALORIE COUNTING Working from home is now so popular that those in the professions lucky enough to be able to do it almost take it as a human right. But be careful what you wish for. Because aside from all the isolation, and working too hard/watching too much daytime telly, there’s another danger lurking. The fridge. Researchers have recently discovered that working from home means we eat an additional 800 calories a day! We also move about less, so our pesky step count goes out the window, too. Probably a reason elasticated waists have never been so popular! SEXY OR A SEX SYMBOL? With age comes va-va-voom status. So today, ladies, we need to think about sex with Gary Lineker. I know, there are possibly worse jobs in the world.…

Are you clued up on exactly what goes into your trolley? Food packaging exists to tell us how healthy – or unhealthy – our food is, displaying what’s in it and where it’s from, so we can make better choices about what we’re putting into our bodies. But is that information always honest and clear? With food experts saying we should look much closer at labels when we’re shopping, here’s what you need to know… What it means ‘LIGHT’ DOESN’T ALWAYS EQUAL HEALTHY Products labelled ‘light’ and ‘low-cal’ aren’t necessarily better – some 10% of ‘diet’ foods contain as many or more calories than their non-diet equivalent, and 40% contain more sugar.* And be aware that ‘fat-free’ and ‘light’ foods are likely to be packed with sugar and artificial additives…

Struggling to switch off at night? A gentle stretching session could be just the ritual you need to help you chill out. Whether you’re stiff from sitting down too much, burnt out by a busy day or your mind is racing, a routine of simple movements can release pent up tension in the body, calm your mind and set yourself up for a restorative night’s sleep. So, instead of collapsing on the sofa, scrolling social media or opening a bottle of wine in front of the TV to help you relax, try these soothing moves each evening before getting ready for bed. Your relaxing routine 1 Shoulder shrugs ✣ Sit cross-legged on the floor, arms relaxed with your palms resting on your knees. ✣ Inhale and tense your…

Chicken gyros SERVES 4 These Greek-style wraps can be marinated well in advance for a tasty and speedy build-your-own dinner PREP TIME: 10 MINSCOOK TIME: 18 MINSCALS: 602 FAT: 18GSAT FAT: 5G CARBS: 66G YOU WILL NEED 6 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone removed8 pitta breads For the marinade: 100g Greek-style yogurtJuice and zest ½ lemon2tbsp olive oil1tbsp each smoked paprika, ground cumin and dried oregano½tsp cayenne pepper2 garlic cloves, crushed For the tzatziki: 250g Greek-style yogurt1 garlic clove, crushed6 sprigs mint, leaves picked and chopped1tbsp olive oil½tsp saltJuice of ½ lemon½ cucumber, grated, juice squeezed out To serve: Lemon wedges, for squeezing2 tomatoes, diced½ cucumber, diced1 red onion, finely dicedHandful flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped HOW TO DO IT 1 Mix all the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl. Score…

Let’s talk about sex. Or, to be more precise, the lack of it. Because, let’s be honest, making time (and having enough energy) to dedicate yourself to physical intimacy isn’t as easy as it might seem. At the start of a relationship, ’honeymoon sex’ can seem wonderful and thrilling, and most of us look back on our sex lives in our 20s and wish it was still as exciting. But as we get older, life gets in the way, and sex can fall by the wayside, gradually getting lower and lower down on our list of priorities. Whether it’s due to tiredness, stress, children or work, there are a multitude of reasons why bedroom action isn’t happening as much as we might like. And, surprisingly, it’s got nothing to do…

Royal divide Things have been turbulent within the Royal Family for quite some time. But with never-ending speculation of feuds and division, have the Windsors found a saviour in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh? Royal expert Jennie Bond revealed that she believes Sophie, 58, will be the one to bridge the gap between parts of the family. She explained, ‘Sometimes it seems strange to realise that these are two different generations of royals, as they seem much closer. But, especially after all that has happened – not only with the Queen’s death, but with Harry and Meghan leaving and Andrew getting “sacked” – the two couples [the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh] have formed a tight bond.’ Jennie continued, ‘I think William and Catherine…

STRIPE IT LUCKY Switch up your classic navy Breton with this candy twist. Top, £14.99, sizes xs-xxl, H&M EVERYDAY ESSENTIAL Size up for an oversized fit. Sweatshirt, £12.50, sizes s-xl, Tickled Pink at George at Asda GET THE GLOSS It’s your time to shine! Powerful Pinks Oil-infused Gloss Duo, £38, Bobbi Brown CARRY-ALL TOTE Pop one in your handbag. Bag, £6, Tickled Pink at George at Asda TO THE MID-AXI Team this longer-length frock with chunky ankle boots. Dress, £39.50, sizes 6-24, M&S THINK PINK Give your bedroom a boost of colour with George Home’s latest accessories. Marble floor lamp, £55, cushions, from £98 bumblebee picture, £8, bedding set, from £11, all George Home; other items, stylist’s own TOASTY TOES Warm feet, kind heart! Slippers, £10, Tickled Pink at George…

As my daughter Mia holds up the pink unicorn bath bomb, I watch her beam with excitement before she drops it into the water, squealing with delight when the water around her fizzes and turns magenta. ‘Look Mummy!’ she giggles. Every moment with her and her older brother Max is special to me because just a few years ago I came close to losing both of them. It shook me and my husband David so much that our whole outlook on life flipped and prompted some huge decisions which changed everything. For years my life resembled that of The Wolf of Wall Street. Since I was 18, my job had been on the trading floor, working my way up to head of e-product for National Australia Bank. My days were…

IS OVERDOSING ON HRT OK? Q For the last four years, I have been on HRT. I was prescribed two pumps of an oestrogen gel every day, which seemed to work well, but over the last year I have had to increase the dose and have been using four pumps a day. When I put in my request for a repeat prescription, it was declined because they said it wasn’t due. I can’t tell my GP what I’ve been doing. What should I do? A Please tell your GP. We never advise people to change doses of any prescribed medication, but we know that this does sometimes happen, and your GP will understand. They will advise you on your options for HRT and will give you a prescription accordingly. Help!…

1 Prevent rather than cure We know we say it a lot, but it is so important to wear sunscreen every single day, all year round – especially if you’re prone to hyperpigmentation. Those pesky UV rays trigger a malfunction in our skin, causing it to make more pigment than it needs, which is why you’ll notice that your hyperpigmentation deepens during and after the summer months. If you put off applying SPF because you don’t like the feel of it on your skin, give Eucerin Hydro Protect Ultra-Light Fluid SPF50+, £20, Boots, a go. It has a barely-there, serum-like texture and doesn’t leave any greasy residue. 2 Try an exfoliant Regularly exfoliating is an easy way to soften the appearance of hyperpigmentation marks. The process works by persuading the…

Quick kitchen hacks Avoid waste with a few simple tips and tricks… GO GREEN Buy bananas on the green side so they don’t turn brown too quickly – if you need one for a recipe put in a low oven and bake for 15 mins or until blackened. Whip up your favourite banana bread in no time! NO MORE OIL SLICKS Adding a spout attachment to bottles of oil saves splashing too much oil on your food and makes it last longer. FRESH CITRUS KICK Lemons can turn mouldy if left in the fruit bowl or lose their natural oils and turn hard in the fridge. Instead, roll them on a counter and extract the juice, then put in a clean jar/bottle and use up in your recipes. Ditch the…

Dunelm BOLD BRIGHTS A fun, pastel pop look that mixes cheerful colours with clashing prints Next MID-CENTURY MODERN Old meets new in this contemporary take on eclectic palettes and patterns…

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 What type of insect has been used by the Onabasulu people of Papua New Guinea to make an instrument called a hugu? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BEETLECOCKROACHCRICKETEARWIGFLEALOCUSTLOUSEMAGGOTMANTISMIDGEMITEMOSQUITONITTICKWORM CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Illegible script (6)4 3 Down & 28 Across. _ _: _, 2022 sci-fi action sequel starring 16 Across, 19 Across, 25 Across, 1 Down & 22 Down (8,5,8)10 Wrongdoer or villain (9)11 Glue (5)12 Receded (5)13 Silent (9)14 Diminishes (7)16 Laura _, actor whose films include Little Women and Wild (4)19 _ Goldblum, actor whose films include The Fly…

Film THE MIRACLE CLUB Out in cinemas 13 October Period heart-warmer about a group of diverse Irishwomen who win a trip to Lourdes in 1967. Laura Linney and Dame Maggie Smith star, as the group all hope for a different miracle. What they find is friendship and healing… Event SHOCKTOBER FEST 29 September 2023 until 31 October 2023. Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill Road, Crawley, RH10 4PE. Tickets from £42 It’s spooky season! Get the fright of your life at the annual Shocktober Fest. With rides, 11 haunted attractions (including Electrick Circus Clowns), street theatre, plus food and drink stalls… only if you dare! Performance MADONNA: THE CELEBRATION TOUR 14 October until 6 December 2023. The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX. Tickets from £134 Get ready to get your vogue…

She’s the bubbly Bristolian who brightens up the mornings of viewers across the country. But while Josie has gushed, ‘I have the best job in the world,’ juggling life as a single mum and navigating life in the spotlight isn’t always easy. She’s opened up about feeling not ‘good enough’ and having ‘ups and downs’. But luckily the 38-year-old, who shares son Reggie, five, with her ex, Terry, has a whole host of supporters rallying around her, including This Morning pals Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond. SISTERHOOD For the best part of this year reports of alleged toxicity behind the scenes at ITV, and This Morning especially, have taken the media by storm, filling newspaper column inches and raising headlines non-stop. This workplace, however, is not one that Josie recognises.…

Top telly Richard Arnold’s SLEEPING BEAUTY Waterloo Road star Angela Griffin loves being back at school on the hit show. ‘Life on Waterloo Road is great,’ she tells me. ‘Another series is coming in January. Kim Campbell will be back in her power suits sorting out everyone’s problems.’ Meanwhile, the star says it’s her own Radio 2 Unwinds show that helps her wind down: ‘The show is there so that people can have a soundtrack to their “chillaxing”. I listen to it to make me go to sleep. Yes, my own voice makes me go to sleep!’ THE YOUNG ONE Paul Young shows no signs of slowing down with his multi-date Behind The Lens tour. ‘We didn’t realise it was 40 years since No Parlez so it was…

Collapsing onto my hostel bed, my phone pinged with an email from my solicitor. As I scanned the words ‘Everything’s done, enjoy your next chapter,’ I let out a relieved sigh. It was the 28 April 2023, and after three difficult years, my divorce was finally settled. We’d been married for 15 years and brought up two kids – my daughter from a previous relationship and our daughter Tilly, 15. We’d built a thriving estate agency, and on the surface, life in our West London home was good. But when I decided to make major changes in my late 30s like taking up hiking and quitting booze, I realised how far we’d drifted. Deciding to separate wasn’t easy – I moved out of the family home and said goodbye to…

Paris Fury She’s known as the wife of boxer Tyson Fury. But over the past few years Paris, 33, has begun to make a name for herself in her own right. The mum-of-seven, who recently starred in reality show At Home with the Furys and released her second autobiography How Does She Do It? The Kids, Tyson & Me, has been a huge hit with fans during previous appearances on the show, with many calling for her to become a regular. One viewer wrote, ‘Paris is an angel I think she deserves to be a Loose Woman permanently.’ Another said, ‘I love Paris Fury... she is a breath of fresh air,’ and a third commented, ‘Paris seems confident & not the type to stand for any c**p! Think she will…

As I walked down the street, bag swinging against my hip, I tried to ignore the stares from passers-by. I raised my chin a little higher, determined not to let them get under my skin. After all, it wasn’t as if I could help the way I looked. It was January 2023 and I’d resolved that this year I wouldn’t let strangers’ comments or staring upset me. It was hard though. For decades I’d been subjected to cruel, mocking giggles, or been the butt of hurtful jokes. And all because I had been blessed, or cursed, depending on your viewpoint, with a larger than average bra size of 40G. EARLY STARTER It all started when I was a child. I was the only one in year four of school that…

Have you heard about? DRINKING BEER COULD BOOST GUT HEALTH Partial to a pint? Enjoying one in moderation could support your digestion and immune system, according to new research.* It’s believed that this is because ingredients such as polyphenols, fibre and ethanol in beer can encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. But don’t overdo it – drink no more than the NHS-recommended six pints of 4% beer a week. It worked for me Diane Welding, 56, from Shropshire ‘I used to be in pain from the waist down and couldn’t kneel on the floor. Since starting the Nuffield Health Joint Pain Programme [free, see nuffieldhealth.com for more information], I’m more flexible and able to get on to the floor to exercise. The plan lasts for six months…

Health ask us She thinks she’s better than me Q My son is married to a woman I struggle to get on with. I’ve known her for three years, and she’s always polite but I think she looks down on me. She’s from a wealthy background, and we’re not. My son recently told me that she can feel my dislike, and wants me to be nicer. A You don’t have to be best friends, but it pays to be friendly. You want him to keep coming around and be in your life. If you alienate his wife, you will force him to choose between you. Try to see you are assuming a lot and are going on a feeling, and feelings aren’t facts. I’m not saying to ignore how you…

READER QUESTION Q How much does it cost to raise a child? I’m worried about the financial responsibility A The steep rise in living costs has seen the average cost of raising a child to 18 jump from £202,660 in 2022 to £223,256 in 2023, according to research by digital wealth manager Moneyfarm*. The research found that between 15-18 years old remains the most expensive time of a child’s life, costing an average of £57,082 for that period. For more info, visit moneyfarm.com. Go green for less Next time you’re using your oven, think about what else you can cook at the same time to make the most of the energy it uses. I’ll often put some baking potatoes in too, then freeze them for a quick meal another day.…

And… relax 10-16 October 2023 ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr You’re fully in your power right now! With the North Node in your sign, you can assert your will in a way that benefits others as well as yourself. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May This is an excellent time to discover new spiritual gifts. Join a meditation class or development group to help you become more aware of your natural gifts. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Finding ways to slow your mind is key. Spend time alone in nature considering your options and desires, to help you to gain perspective and clear direction. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul It may be time to make a courageous change. If you’ve been thinking about doing something different, why…

THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE by Richard Osman (£22, HB, Penguin) Hailed as Osman’s best yet, the fourth Thursday Murder Club novel has everything you’d expect from the series: intrigue, humour, and more twists and turns than a country road. The death of an old friend in the antiques business, and the package he was protecting now missing, is what mobilises the gang this time, as they navigate a world of fraudsters, drug dealers, forgers – and heartache. As Elizabeth takes more time to look after her husband, each member of the gang deals with their own personal situations. And, as the body count rises, everyone is left wondering if their luck has finally run out. An absolute joy. FLYING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Helen Whitaker (£9.99, PB, Hodder &…

Kelvin Fletcher ‘I LOVE BEING A FARMER!’ The ex-soap star on his new life in the country… Kelvin Fletcher is best known for playing Emmerdale’s Andy Sugden, who spent his young life on a farm and eventually became a farmer himself. But after 20 years of pretending to live off the land in the ITV1 soap, the actor is doing it for real. Two years ago, Kelvin and his wife Liz decided to swap urban living for the countryside, buying a 120-acre farm in the Peak District, where they now live and work with their kids – Marnie, seven, Milo, four, and one-year-old twins Mateusz and Maximus. Last year, the BBC1 series Kelvin’s Big Farming Adventure followed the couple as they began work as farmers, despite having zero farming experience.…