Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, October 28, 2024 i Woman's Own

It’s finally here – the most fun holiday of them all… Halloween! We’ve got everything you need, from dead-easy bakes (p36) to costume inspiration from the celebs themselves (p53). In fact, the debate in the office this week (and in the mag!) is whether you’re ever too old to dress up for the big night. Two readers battle it out on p43 and I am firmly in the ‘No’ camp. I love adding a new costume to my stash every year – and plan on being a skeleton/ghoul/witch for as long as I can! Age shouldn’t hold you back from anything – and that includes Halloween! We’ve also got some scarily good bargains for you on p16 with our designer style for less and on p22 the experts solve your…

AU NATUREL Aged 17, a young Katie burst onto the scene in the hopes of becoming the next big glamour model. It wasn’t long before she was snapped up by a modelling agency and regular appearances in The Sun’s now infamous Page 3 soon saw the creation of her alter ego, Jordan. BARE-FACED BEAUTY In 2004, the nation watched on as Katie and Peter Andre fell for each other in the I’m a Celebrity jungle. While she’d had three boob jobs and reportedly dabbled with lip filler and injectables at this point, the star, then 25, looked a natural beauty as she ditched the make-up for her stint Down Under. NEW NOSE AND TEETH Over the next few years, Katie was open about her love for injectables and had a…

HAVE YOU MARRIED THE WRONG MAN? Experts believe that they’ve uncovered the answer… If ever there was a headline to stop you in your tracks it’s this one: ‘Why women marry the wrong men.’ To be honest it wasn’t helped that I read it while the husband was throwing a mantrum (like a toddler’s tantrum, but worse… far worse) over the fact that his computer was ignoring what he wanted it to do. As every wife knows, the answer to this is to sigh, shake your head and continue with your own task in hand. In my case this was, indeed, reading why we marry the wrong men. And it was a gobsmacker. Ready? Well, it’s because we’re on the contraceptive pill. I mean, what? According to Maisie Hill, a life…

Whether you’re the ‘swinging from the chandeliers’ type or enjoy a more sensual session, it’s not just thrills we experience between the sheets. In fact, 62%* of Brits have sustained sex-related injuries, with feeling sore down below and sprained muscles being among the most common complaints when getting frisky. But, fear not! Our expert tips will fix your bedroom frights. TEARS Minor vaginal cuts and tears are common during sex and it’s usually a sign that tissues have become more delicate, says Dr Susanna Unsworth, women’s health and menopause specialist**. ‘This may be due to dryness or may be related to an underlying skin disorder, such as eczema.’ The friction that occurs during intercourse can then cause small tears. ‘Most will heal by themselves, but you may want to avoid…

READER QUESTION Q Do you have any tips on how I can save money making packed lunches for school? A Being organised is key. Consider making sausage rolls and baked treats like biscuits in bulk, then freeze them until you need them. Batches of pasta salad are cheap to make and will last for a couple of days. Buying big bags of dried fruit such as raisins and dividing them into pots works out much cheaper than buying small boxes of them. Go green for less Want to save some pennies and take your own lunch on a day out, but it feels a bit too chilly for sandwiches? Then why not bring a hot lunch instead, in a vacuum flask that’s designed for food, like this Décor Black Food…

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 Between 1961 and 1963, the Brazilian and French navies were drawn into a dispute over the fishing of which sea creatures? The answer is the one missing from the grid. CLAMCOCKLECODCRABHERRINGLOBSTERMUSSELSOYSTER PRAWNSALMONSCALLOPSHRIMPSQUIDTUNAWHELK CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 Orlando __, star of films The Good Doctor and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (5)7 Thirteenth largest country in Africa (8)10 Signal in an F1 race to stop due to danger (3,4)11 Bear witness (7)12 Remove hair (7)13 First-year student (7)14 2023 true-story motorsport film starring 6 Across, 2 Down, 6 Down, and 24…

Celeb photo fun LOOSE WOMEN When it comes to Halloween, the Loose Women ladies always go the extra mile. Last year, Jane Moore dressed as the Wicked Witch of the West, while Kaye Adams transformed into Hocus Pocus’ Winifred Sanderson. Olivia Attwood opted for a more glam look as an ice queen, while Nadia Sawalha went as the Grand High Witch from Roald Dahl’s The Witches. We can’t wait to see what they do this year! AMANDA HOLDEN Britain’s Got Talent’s Amanda is a cool mum, and she proved it last year when she and daughter Hollie dressed as zombie versions of June and Regina George from Mean Girls. Even with white contact lenses and spooky grey make-up, Amanda, 53, still looks amazing! JESSICA BIEL AND JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE Singer Justin…

Sussexes AT WAR! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be ‘at war with themselves’ after going their separate ways for a series of solo engagements over the last month. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield said, ‘I think professionally, she’s trying to upstage him, he’s trying to upstage her, so it goes from bad to worse.’ Leaving Meghan, 43, at home with their children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, Prince Harry has travelled to New York, the UK and Africa recently, undertaking a number of engagements where onlookers said he ‘looked like the old Harry we knew and loved’. Meanwhile, his wife was described as looking ‘shy’ and ‘lost without him’ during an appearance at an LA gala, despite saying she was ‘happy to be there’. The couple, who…

AUTUMNAL GARLAND A great addition to your seasonal decor. Artificial wreath, £28, So’home at La Redoute OPULENT FLAME A gorgeous centrepiece for your table. Candelabra, £24.99, H&M Home SUEDE SLINGBACKS Perfect for keeping your feet cosy indoors. Shoes, £12, Rita Ora X Primark SIP SIP HOORAY Enjoy a tipple in style. Wine glasses, £8 for two, Stacey Solomon X George Home TIMELESS CLASSIC This wardrobe staple is always on trend. Trench, £45, sizes 4-20, The Edit at Primark FAMILY AFFAIR Get ready for the spooky season. L-r: Hat, £9, hello pumpkin sweatshirt, from £6, jeans, from £11, both sizes 1-7 years, orange jumper, £22, jeans, £22, both sizes 8-22, checked jacket, £28, hooded jumper, £18, both sizes s-xxxl, jeans, £10, sizes w30-w40, trainers, £22, orange pumpkin jumper, from £7, jeans,…

‘My girl was smiling until the end’ Emily Morton, 27, from Louth, Lincolnshire Stroking my little girl’s brow, I watched her sleeping peacefully, clutching her Elsa doll. At just two years old, Lily was such a happy, smiley little girl who loved Disney princesses and singing nursery rhymes. She meant everything to me and her dad Josh, 27. But now, as I watched her sleeping in the hospital bed, I wondered how my precious little girl, so full of innocence, could fight something so deadly. It was early 2022 and Josh and I had just been told that Lily had a cancerous brain tumour - a stage three ependymoma. It had come following months of tests, after Josh and I had noticed that Lily kept stumbling, and her head would…

FOOT WORRY Q I have regular checks on my feet because I have diabetes. At my recent appointment, the chiropodist commented that the pulses in my feet are rapid and that I should get this checked by my GP. I don’t want to waste my doctor’s time if it’s nothing, so I have been checking it myself. Sometimes it’s fine; however, at other times it feels fast and irregular. What do you think? A Your doctor will definitely want to know about this. You may be flipping in and out of an abnormal rhythm called atrial fibrillation (AF). If that’s the case, your GP will want to give you medication to slow your heart and thin your blood. Left untreated, AF can increase the risk of a stroke. ARE THE…

Face mapping A part of traditional Chinese medicine, face mapping has been used for years. Making a comeback thanks to TikTok, this trend involves corresponding imperfections on the face with a possible health issue. Spots on the forehead can be associated with digestive issues and poor diet, while cheek blemishes are linked to the respiratory system. Face mapping can help those with recurring spots figure out why they’re appearing and work to prevent them. For a quick fix, try Beauty Bay Hydrocolloid Spot Patches, £10, beautybay.com, which when left on spots overnight help to reduce their appearance. Facial flooding Although this trend might be new, the process itself is nothing revolutionary. Layering your products to effectively drench your skin in layers of hydration, a face flooding routine would start with…

Ghostly choc cake SERVES 12 Homemade meringues turn this easy all-in-one sponge into a showstopper. PREP: 40 MINS COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR 20 MINSCALS: 664 FAT: 38GSAT FAT: 23G CARBS: 77G YOU WILL NEED For the ghosts: 2 egg whites100g caster sugar Edible pen, for decorating For the cake: 4 medium eggs250g unsalted butter, softened175g dark muscovado sugar60g golden syrup60g dark chocolate, melted1tsp vanilla extract200g self-raising flour30g cocoa powder½tsp baking powder For the icing: 200g butter, softened and cubed300g icing sugar, sifted50g cocoa powder4tbsp milk100g dark chocolate, melted You will need: 2 x 20cm round sandwich tins, greased and base-lined; piping bag HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat the oven to 110C Fan/Gas ¼. Whisk the egg whites with an electric mixer until foamy. Add the sugar, 1tbsp at a…

Real life debate YES ‘I’d feel silly in costume’ Ursh Stevens, 49, lives in Carlisle, Cumbria. Back when my children were young, I’d go all out for Halloween. Every year we’d host a big party, invite my kids’ friends and their parents. I’d send out ghost-shaped invitations, carve pumpkins, decorate the house and serve Halloween-themed food. I’d always dress up, usually as a witch in a long black gown and pointy hat, and encourage everyone - kids and adults - to dress up too. It was great fun. But now that my kids are grown up and have left home, I wouldn’t dream of hosting, or going to, a Halloween party. I do love this time of year, but now it’s about being quiet and cosy at home. Rather than…

22-28 October 2024 ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr As the year draws to a close it’s time to give gratitude for all the abundant blessings in your life. Make a list of your top 10 successes from this year! TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May It can be difficult to ask for help, but it is really important to talk honestly with someone close to you because it will help you gain a new perspective. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun It is time to act! Whatever you have been talking about doing this year but haven’t quite got round to yet, go for it now. Have confidence in your ideas. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul There’s nothing you love better than chilling out at home with a…

Dame Mary Berry ‘I CAN’T WAIT TO SHARE THESE RECIPES WITH YOU’ The nation’s favourite cook on her new series… After helping celebrities with their culinary dilemmas in Mary Makes It Easy last year, the much-loved chef returns with a new six-part series, which is in a similar vein. In Mary’s Foolproof Dinners, Dame Mary Berry helps more familiar faces take the stress out of cooking with some fail-safe dishes. ‘WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!’ ‘I’m delighted to return with six more fabulous friends to change their thoughts about cooking with new foolproof recipes – and these really are foolproof,’ says Mary. ‘I can’t wait to share them with you.’ In the first episode, Mary visits comedian Alan Carr at his home and is shocked to find his fridge and…

Despite her popularity over the years, having been a hit on SM:TV Live and CD:UK, it’s no secret that This Morning fans haven’t taken to Cat Deeley since she took the helm in the spring. When she returned to the show after the summer break, one viewer commented, ‘I’ve enjoyed watching again while Cat has been away, now won’t watch again she’s back.’ Another added, ‘This Morning has definitely lost its sparkle. It is no way as good as it used to be. Sorry, Cat and Ben just don’t work. Maybe it’s time to call it a day, sorry guys.’ A third said, ‘I will not watch Cat Deeley as she is too loud. Speaks over everybody. I always watched This Morning but not now.’ And with Cat saying…

The pub door swung open and I watched as the man I’d been waiting for stepped inside. Dark hair, brown eyes and a big smile. ‘Gemma, good to meet you,’ he said, giving me a hug. It was November 2013 and I’d got chatting to David Barr, then 38, a few weeks before on Facebook. We’d swapped messages, then chatted on the phone. David was intelligent and well-spoken. He’d been to uni and worked in security. David lived 30 miles away from me in Mold, Flintshire, but we’d met for a drink in my local pub. He was good-looking, but shy and modest, which I found attractive. Before I knew it, it was late. David had a long way to drive home, but my house was nearby. ‘Do you mind…

Buy of the week Snuggle up with a mug of Tea People Spiced Pumpkin Pie caffeine-free loose tea (£10.90 for 125g, tea people.co.uk). Blended with the heart-healthy spice, turmeric. HEALTH MATHS Three steps to prepare for the clocks going back GO TO BED AT YOUR USUAL TIME + AVOID THE SNOOZE BUTTON + STAY ACTIVE + = Reduced tiredness, improved mood and productivity. If you do one thing Open a window every day It might not sound appealing at this time of year, but a lack of fresh air can be bad for your health. Breathing in pollutants from mould, cleaning products, dust mites, cosmetics and gases from cooking and heating has been linked to health conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and even lung cancer. ‘We think…

Health ask us I don’t want to live with my mum Q My mother is 87 and I’m 48. She had me late in life and, for all of my childhood, told me I was a mistake. When I was 18, she told me to leave, which I did. Since then, we’ve rarely spoken or seen each other. Now my brothers (60 and 65) say she wants to live with me. There’s just no way I’m doing this and I feel angry at them for suggesting it. A The pressure is often on daughters to do all the caring for elderly parents, even though it’s something that should be shared between siblings, and certainly discussed. This situation calls for honesty. Tell your brothers that this isn’t going to work for…

We don’t go anywhere without our phones these days, do we? In fact, if we’re being honest, a large proportion of our time is spent scrolling on our devices each day. But there are certain times when using our phones just isn’t acceptable – or legal. Driving while using a mobile phone, tablet or any device that can send or receive data, is against the law in the UK, but that doesn’t stop some people from taking the risk – especially young people. Among under-25s surveyed for a recent RAC Report on Motoring, 49% admitted to using a handheld phone for calls while driving, while for motorists aged 65 and over the figure was 13%. And it’s not just talking on the phone; 30% of under-25s say they’ve engaged in…

Watching the sun set over the white sand and turquoise sea, cocktail in hand, it felt like the classic beachside break. But the arrival of a troupe of dancers, performing the local Sega in the shadow of the jaw-dropping Le Morne mountain, made the experience uniquely Mauritian. Blessed with idyllic beaches and turquoise waters, the island enjoys a tropical climate with consistent temperatures year-round. There’s no bad time to visit! RICH HERITAGE This haven, east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, packs quite the punch for an island that’s just 65km long. Its rich culture is all around. Mauritius began as an uninhabited volcanic paradise (famously home to the now-extinct dodo), until the first of many European colonists arrived, bringing slaves and labourers from across the globe. The result today…

DEATH BY NUMBERS by Jo Cunningham (£20, HB, Little, Brown Book Group) Can Una stop the killer or is her number up? Working tirelessly as an actuary for a life insurance company, Una has her sights set on a promotion. If there’s one thing she understands better than people, it’s statistics. But her data on the predicted number of deaths in seaside resorts shows an unusual oversight in her forecasts. With her reputation at risk, Una investigates an unlikely string of mysterious and bizarre fatalities – including a death by hanging basket. She begins in Eastbourne, where two friends of her mother’s flashy new fiancé Ken have met strange ends, and soon finds a sinister pattern emerging. THE COTTAGE ON PELICAN BAY by Brenda Jackson (£9.99, PB, HarperCollins) Can a…

Real life in my experience The state of the bathroom said it all. Laundry cascading from the washing basket, a sink so dirty you could write your name in it and towels all over the floor. Why was my house this way? I was on strike. I decided to do it after realising how much I do: putting lids on toothpaste and hair gels, picking up towels, cleaning loos, cooking dinner, going shopping, bringing dirty plates down from my kids’ rooms. NO DINNER At the end of day one, my son Alex, 15, and daughter Adriana, 10, realised something was different. They got in from school and dinner wasn’t made. Instead, my husband Cornel had brought them a takeaway. Thrilled, they tucked in. ‘What’s this for?’ Alex said. ‘Because I…