Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, April 01, 2024 i Woman's Own

It’s a bumper issue and we’ve got all you need to keep entertained over the bank holiday weekend. On p64, reader Josie shares how she transformed a school bus into her dream home. It looks so cosy – very cottage chic! On p47, we ask, what is the best age to fall in love? I always love hearing how couples have met. And, on p36, we bring you your new-season walking plan to help you tone up in six weeks. I love a walk – it’s just that mine ideally end with a pub stop, plus a Scotch egg or sausage roll and a bev, which might negate the purpose of the plan! Your Easter is sorted with one-pan roasts on p52 and must-try treats on p56, plus on p84,…

With a brood of five and a busy career to juggle, it’s hardly surprising that things can get on top of Stacey Solomon sometimes. And that’s what seems to be happening at the moment, as the star has admitted that she’s felt ‘scared’ and ‘emotional’. After Stacey, her husband Joe Swash and their three young children, Rex, four, Rose, two, and one-year-old Belle, as well as Stacey’s older boys Zachary, 16, and Leighton, 11, took a trip around Scotland in their new camper van, Stacey admitted she and Joe ‘nearly killed each other’. And when the topic of having another baby came up on her BBC show Sort Your Life Out, she confessed, ‘I can’t even handle what I have now.’ Clashing with Joe Stacey recently suggested she was cross…

CAN WOMEN HAVE IT ALL? Lily Allen isn’t so sure about it – and I have to agree with her I love women to bits. But did you know that there’s one big, fat juicy lie we’ve told ourselves for decades, possibly centuries? A lie we continue to tell our daughters and granddaughters to this day. It’s that we can have it all. We can’t. ‘DOING IT ALL ISN’T THE SAME AS HAVING IT ALL’ We may well be supreme multitaskers but we’re also Jackies of all trades, masters of none. Pop singer turned actor Lily Allen nailed it recently. ‘I love my children, but they ruined my career,’ she said, adding, ‘I get really annoyed when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can’t.’ They’re…

Wide-leg trousers With their comfy elasticated waistbands and the relaxed, leg-lengthening cut – you won’t want to take these off! Blazers Sharpen up any look with these smart cover-ups. They work with jeans, dresses and everything in-between. Shirt dresses A ready-made outfit that you can throw on when you’re in a hurry, the sleek shirt dress will make maximum impact with very little effort. Colourful earrings Get ready for your close-up and elevate the simplest of looks with these playful gems. Printed tops From florals to stripes, these pretty prints will lift your look. Opt for voluminous sleeves for extra drama. Cross-body bags A sweet piece of arm candy that’s practical for day into night. Trainers Freshen up your white kicks with splashes of colour – just as versatile and…

Have you heard about? BEING LATE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE YOU HAPPIER Always running behind schedule? It might just be your greatest asset.* Findings showed that those who are often late are usually calmer and more optimistic, which helps to fight high blood pressure and associated health problems, such as heart disease. Participant follow-ups found that those with an optimistic outlook lived longer, too. So, there’s no need to feel guilty for your tardiness! It worked for me Deon Bryan, 57, from West Yorkshire ‘I was experiencing tiredness and joint issues due to the menopause. Plus, I had low vitamin D levels, which is common in Black Caribbean women like myself. I now take Prime Fifty Menopause Support (£16 for 56 tablets, futureyouhealth. com), a food supplement made with vitamin D,…

We bicker constantly! Q After bringing up three kids and working, my husband is now retired. We are in our early 60s, with our kids living away. We love each other but bicker all the time. My husband has had no interests or hobbies since leaving his job so he relies on me for company. By contrast, I have interests and used to swim with friends regularly, but now I feel obliged to stay at home. A Couples often end up bickering due to too much time together. Three things will help. One, cultivate some common interests that get you both out of the house with others, like a gym or walking group; two, talk to your husband about taking responsibility for making a new life for himself; three, don’t…

ALL UNDER £15 Caring cleanser Every time you cleanse, your skin’s pH level is disrupted, Garnier Skin Active Soothing Hyaluronic Aloe Cream Cleanser, £9.99, Boots, deep cleanses your complexion to rebalance your skin barrier. Use every morning on all skin types. Loud lips Makeup Revolution Pout Tint in Sweetie Coral, £5.99, revolutionbeauty.com, offers a sheer kiss of colour with a high-gloss finish that hydrates your lips too. And the buildable colour allows you to personalise your shade. Fake awake This hydrating and energising eye cream comes to the aid of sleepy faces. Use Skin Proud Secure The Barrier Boosting Eye Cream, £14.95, iamproud.com, when you need a morning boost. It’s packed with nourishing, tightening and energising ingredients. Feeling flushed Take your pick from three stunning cheek colours with bargain buy…

Roast Chicken with root veg and rosemary £2.16 PER SERVE PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: COOK 1 HR 30 MINS, PLUS RESTING CALS: 812 FAT: 28G SAT FAT: 5G CARBS: 64G SERVES 6 Cooking the veggies under the chicken gives them an extra flavour boost. YOU WILL NEED 750g Desiree or white potatoes, each cut into 4 rounds500g baby carrots500g parsnips, cut into quarters2 leeks, slicedFew sprigs rosemary6tbsp olive oil2kg whole chicken200g Brussels sprouts You will need: Large roasting tin HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. Put the potatoes, carrots, parsnips, leeks and rosemary all together in the roasting tin. Season, then toss with 4tbsp of the oil. 2 Push the vegetables to the edges of the tin, making space for the chicken…

READER QUESTION Q I’d like to sell my wedding dress to get some money. How do I go about it? A There are specialist websites such as sellmyweddingdress.co.uk, which charges £10 to advertise a dress for six months or £15 for a year. You can also can list bridesmaid dresses for £5 each for six months and items like a veil, a tiara or shoes for £3 each for six months – be sure to read the site’s tips on selling safely. So compare different sites online, and remember to check reviews and terms and conditions. Or try listing it for free on sites such as gumtree.com. Go green for less Cut down on food waste and save cash by having a weekly ‘use-up day’ where you make the most…

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 Bundevara is a traditional Serbian dish, most closely resembling which type of pie? The answer is the one missing from the grid. APPLEBANOFFEECHERRYCOTTAGECUSTARDFISHGAMEMEATMINCEPECANPORKPUMPKINRHUBARBSCOTCHSTEAK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 19th NATO alphabet codeword (6)4 The _ of Inisherin, 2022 tragicomedy film starring10 Across, 15 Across, and 23 Down (8)10 _ Gleeson, star of films Calvary and The Guard (7)11 Aeroplane with two sets of wings (7)12 Knocks (4)13 Upgrade (10)15 Kerry __, star of TV series Better Call Saul (6)16 Capital of Sri Lanka (7)20 Frocks (7)21 Isla _, star of Confessions of a Shopaholic (6)24 Adviser…

Model and TV personality Christine McGuinness admits she had no idea how much her view of life would shift when she agreed to take part in the new series of Pilgrimage, which saw her join six other celebs on a spiritual journey along the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way. The 36-year-old shares children Felicity, seven, and twins Penelope and Leo, 10, with her estranged husband, presenter Paddy McGuinness, 50. The couple announced their separation in 2022, 11 years after tying the knot, but continue to live together as friends in their Cheshire home. How was your experience on Pilgrimage? It was incredible, especially as I’m trying to push myself more. My children are my biggest inspiration and with me and them being autistic, I’m learning that we are a lot more…

Simon Gregson ‘STEVE WANTS TO SAVE HIS MARRIAGE’ The Corrie actor on his character’s last-ditch bid… Steve McDonald is Coronation Street’s most married character, having wed seven times to five different women, and now it looks like another marriage will bite the dust… After Steve found out that his wife Tracy had been sleeping with footballer-turned-decorator Tommy Orpington, she told him that she wanted out of their marriage. But then she found out that Tommy had got a job as a football coach in Spain, and assuming their affair meant nothing to him, she called time on the relationship. What Tracy doesn’t realise is that Tommy wants her to go with him, and has put it all down in a letter which has been intercepted by Steve, who’s shocked when…

Real life in my experience We’re all guilty of it: keeping things ‘for best’. Whether it’s that posh handbag, swish dress or high-heeled pair of shoes. I’m terrible; I buy something for a special occasion, but sometimes that occasion never comes. As a result, I have lovely handbags, clothes and shoes stuck just gathering dust. So I set myself a challenge: for a few days, I’ll dress up as if I’m going to a wedding or highbrow event and finally give my ‘best’ gear an outing. On day one, I pull out an orangey-red maxi dress I’ve barely worn. I bought it to go to a gala dinner on holiday, but felt it was ‘too much’ to wear again. SHOPPING IN STYLE I add a pair of sparkly designer shoes…

Alison ‘IT’S TIME TO SAY FAREWELL’ TV presenter Alison Hammond was overcome with emotion as she left her Solihull home for the last time. Taking to Instagram, the 49-year-old shared a short video of the £700,000 house – which she sold late last year – looking empty, with the caption, ‘Thank you for the memories. I loved this house but it’s time to say farewell.’ In another post, Alison gave fans a sneak peek at her new pad. She wrote, ‘Feeling very emotional that without all your support and love I wouldn’t be looking at this view.’ The former Big Brother contestant added, ‘This is my new garden, I would draw it as a child but never dreamt it would become a reality. Thank you.’ The move comes after she…

STRIPE IT LUCKY Step out in a statement collar. Cardigan, £25.99, sizes xs-l, Zara FACE VALUE Smooths and firms skin. PS… Skin+ Vitamin C Booster Serum, £6, Primark WELL DRESSED Adds flavour to your food – and your kitchen counter. Oil bottle, £15, Oliver Bonas LITTLE GEMS Classic hoops just got a vibrant upgrade. Earrings, £5.99, parfois.com BODY AND SOLE Funky footwear to give your fitness regime a motivational boost. Trainers, £20, Tu Clothing SPRING FEVER Longer days call for light jackets and colour-popping prints. Jacket, £59, dress, £75, both sizes 6-24, FatFace ARE YOU READY? For a glassy, hydrated finish. Dewy Gloss Tinted Lip Jelly, £18, ciatelondon.com THE NEW BLACK Cute and compact with a designer-inspired finish. Bag, £39.50, M&S SOAP OPERA A contemporary addition to your sink or…

Has the cost-of-living crisis left you counting the pennies? This doesn’t mean your health has to suffer. You can improve your wellbeing with these purse-friendly tips and tricks that will leave you feeling on top form while sticking to a tight budget – all for less than a quid! FIND YOUR INNER CALM Achieve a little bit of zen, without signing up to a pricey Pilates class or having to remortgage your house for a luxury massage. Just download the free app NHS Thrive (thrive.uk.com/thrive-app). It’s designed to prevent and manage stress and anxiety, help you monitor your mood, and teach you relaxation techniques, such as meditation and deep-muscle relaxation. Jump in for a three-minute de-stress or use regularly to build resilience. COST FREE RELIEVE PAIN Turmeric contains curcumin, a…

Handy multitasker I’ve been so impressed by Remington ONE Straight & Curl Styler, £129.99, Boots. The ceramic plates create a super-sleek, straight look, but the clever bit is its ability to change from one hair tool to another. Simply lock the plates together to create a 32mm curling tong – it creates beautiful, bouncy curls. While it’s an initial investment, you really are getting two tools in one. Stephanie On the go Phil Smith Lightweight Travel Hairdryer, £12, Argos, is small but mighty. It’s both lightweight and foldable, making it suitable for even the tightest of hand-luggage allowances. With a potent 1,200 wattage with two speed and temperature settings, it works just as well as my usual dryer, meaning I can keep my good hair days going wherever I am.…

Real life the way I see it ‘We’re lucky to have avoided heartbreak’ Abigail Freeman, 27, a freelance TV assistant producer, lives in Baldock with her husband David, 27. Spying my crush David across the school canteen, I felt myself blushing. We were both 12 and David had a Justin Bieber-style mop of hair and was so friendly and popular. We got along well and when he asked me to be his girlfriend in May 2011, I felt giddy with excitement. At school, we walked around holding hands. At lunchtime, I would sit on the edge of the football pitch with my friends, watching him play. He made me feel special, buying me cuddly toys and sending sweet messages after school. By the time I was 14, I knew it…

Choc-orange hot cross buns PREP TIME: 30 MINS, PLUS 2 HRS 30 MINS PROVING COOK TIME: 20 MINS, PLUS COOLING CALS: 322 FAT: 10G SAT FAT: 5G CARBS: 51G MAKES 13 Nothing beats a freshly baked bun, and these choccy ones are simple to make. YOU WILL NEED 500g strong white flour, plus extra to dust½tsp fine salt80g caster sugar2tbsp cocoa powder7g sachet fast-action yeast2tbsp mixed spice280ml milk, warmed1 medium egg, beaten75g butter, melted100g mixed peel100g dark orange chocolate, choppedinto little pieces50g plain flour2tsp vegetable oil1tbsp marmalade You will need: Piping bag with a small round nozzle HOW TO DO IT 1 Put the flour, salt, sugar, cocoa powder, yeast and mixed spice into the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a dough hook. Add the warm milk, egg…

Picking up the pace in my designer heels, as I walked to my banking and investment job in the City, I checked my phone. It was summer 2018 and I was keen to see where my friend had booked for our meal on Saturday night. ‘Nobu, nice choice,’ I replied back, already looking forward to our fortnightly dinner date. My job in the City was stressful and with a five-year-old daughter and three-year-old son at home, I really enjoyed time with my friends on the weekends, when my husband would take the reins and I could have some fun. ‘I RARELY THOUGHT ABOUT THE COST’ I had a couple of really close friendships and we regularly went on dinner dates to lavish restaurants, nights out to fancy bars and booked…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr With the Sun in Aries currently, you can take charge of your destiny and help others do the same. Believe in your power to create positive change in your life! TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Tap into the fiery energy of the Sun in Aries to stay motivated and to achieve your most important goals. This will result in a very favourable outcome for you. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Have you been guided in a new direction with your work recently? If so, the universe is showing you a new way of being more aligned with your life purpose. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Drop the self-blame! You have done nothing wrong in this situation and it is time to…

MACHINE GUN KELLY Last month, American musician MGK – real name Colson Baker – hit headlines when he unveiled his new inking. The 33-year-old showcased his ‘blackout’ tattoo, which sees almost all of his upper body covered in black ink, with a few gaps. Alongside a picture of his tattoo, MGK, who is engaged to actor Megan Fox, wrote, ‘For spiritual purposes only.’ One fan joked, ‘Did someone draw on him with a marker?’ KATIE PRICE As with most things in her life, when it comes to tattoos, the Pricey, 45, doesn’t do things by halves. The former glamour model has more than 19 inkings – many of which are tributes to her exes. Then there’s the thong on her bum that means she’s never without a pair of lacey…

Once you get over the fact that you couldn’t possibly be old enough to be a granny, who doesn’t relish the thought of playing with tiny versions of your now grown-up children? After all, forging that special relationship can be a delight. But today, at least five million grandparents in the UK are caring for their grandchildren regularly. The rising cost of living and an expectation that the older generation will play a greater role in the lives of their grandchildren means nearly 40% of grandparents are child carers, says Age UK. A major factor is that UK childcare costs are sky-high. A report by charity Pregnant Then Screwed has warned that the financial burden of childcare leaves four in 10 parents saying they often have to choose between paying…

HELP! HIS NAIL HAS TURNED BLACK Q My husband hit his finger at the weekend while doing some DIY. The nail went black and was causing a lot of pain, so we went to A&E and they drilled a hole in the nail to release a collection of blood under the nail. It immediately eased the pain, but today it’s worse than ever. Should we go back? A The procedure your husband had is called trephination and it is only done one or two days following an injury. After that the blood under the nail will have clotted, so trephination is not effective. But he should make an appointment to see his GP as the increase in pain could be due to infection. WILL I GET A BREAST CHECK? Q…

For wrinkles When choosing supplements, look for products supported by clinical trials on a large cross section of people. Absolute Collagen Marine Liquid Collagen Drink, £33.99 for a 14-day supply, absolutecollagen.com, underwent the world’s most robust clinical trial, testing the effects of marine collagen on 130 men and women, aged 40-60 over 12 weeks. 100% of participants experienced improvement in the appearance of lines and wrinkles. The drink combines hydrolysed marine collagen with vitamin C to stimulate collagen formation and provide antioxidant protection. For weak, brittle nails If your nails break at the slightest knock, take Purolabs Biotin Complex, £29.99 for a 60-day supply, purolabs.com. Studies show that biotin can increase nail thickness and reduce splitting, but our bodies don’t produce it naturally. This vegan supplement contains a generous 10,000ug…

With a really clear idea of the kind of property I wanted – somewhere that felt welcoming, warm and homely, in a convenient location for my son, Myles, to go to school – I found my flat. Despite it being very basic and somewhat underwhelming internally, I could see it had so much potential. The building – which is Edwardian, and full of character – is positioned opposite a pretty church, and the beautiful sash windows overlook quiet, leafy avenues. The interior was nothing short of neglected, having previously been an unloved rental property, but the large windows allow natural light to flood in, and the outdoor greenery feels like a unique, ever-changing piece of artwork. I couldn’t walk away and decided this was to be our home. CREATING A…

THE PERFECT PASSION COMPANY by Alexander McCall Smith (£18.99, HB, Birlinn General) Bringing people together is what Katie Donald does best. As the manager of the Perfect Passion Dating Company in Edinburgh’s New Town, she helps lonely hearts find that elusive spark, without the nightmare of online dating. Katie can see past the surface and work out what people are truly seeking. Whether she’s sending a pilot to cooking school, or helping a hotelier find space from his mother, Katie and her gorgeous (but unavailable) office neighbour William steer clients on the path to love. A read that delves into the fascinating world of matchmaking. MAYA’S LAWS OF LOVE by Alina Khawaja (£8.99, PB, Simon & Schuster) Maya is convinced that she’s cursed. In her life, anything that can go…