Innholdsfortegnelse for Monday, 11 November 2024 - Double Issue i Woman's Own

I know it feels early but Christmas planning is afoot. Supermarkets have their delivery slots up, toys are on TV and it won’t be long before Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is blasting out everywhere we go. I never really used to like Christmas – shocking, I know! – and at Woman’s Own we’re thinking about it from at least July, which is a long while if you’re not quite keen on it. But then I realised it’s not all that bad. Yes, there’s a LOT of prep work that goes into the festive season (this issue has you covered!) but essentially, Christmastime is special. Getting dates in the diary and spending time with loved ones, that’s what’s important – and I for one can’t wait. Turns out,…

Buy of the week Get mistletoe-ready with Listerine Cool Mint Pocketpaks (£6.23 for 72 strips, amazon.co.uk). Pop on your tongue to kill 99.9% of bad-breath bacteria. THE TO-DO LIST EAT BRUSSELS SPROUTS Love them or hate them, they help to boost everything from skin health to bones, thanks to their high content of vitamins C and K. GIVE GIFTS To boost the feel-good chemical, dopamine, in the brain. And the benefits are the same no matter the time of year or how much you spend. SNUGGLE UP For heart health. Cuddle hormone oxytocin, released during affection, can help to reduce blood pressure.** Why not put on a festive film with a loved one? If you do one thing Manage feelings of loss Whether it’s your first year without a loved…

HE WON’T LET THEM SLEEP TOGETHER Q My husband says my daughter (24) can’t sleep in the same room as her boyfriend when they visit at Christmas. He has a different rule for her brother, who is 19 – his girlfriend is allowed to stay in his room. My daughter says she won’t come, as it’s not fair. How can I help? A Your daughter is an adult, and it’s understandable that she wants to be treated with the same respect as her brother. If the rule stays in place and she doesn’t come, it’s important to respect her choice. However, address the inconsistency with your husband. While he may have a traditional outlook, point out that the double standard could cause harm to your family dynamic at a time…

‘Food was my comfort’ Teg Turner, 37, lives in Somerset Popping another chocolate into my mouth, I looked in the tin of empty, colourful wrappers. I’d practically demolished the entire lot and felt a wave of shame. ‘Never mind, it is Christmas,’ I reasoned. It was 2022 and every year was the same. I’d overindulge then spend the new year feeling guilty and sluggish. OVERWEIGHT AND SAD But I couldn’t keep using Christmas as an excuse, because the truth was, I ate in excess all year round. Working as a mental health nurse and living alone, I invested so much time in my career that I neglected myself. Instead of healthy meals, I’d eat quick and easy things like takeaways, lots of bread and cheese. At 5ft 5in I was…

YES ‘It’s a waste of the day’ Kayley Wilson, 52, lives with her husband Neil, 42, and her son Max, 17. I spent most of last Christmas dashing from the living room to the kitchen, feeling frustrated and annoyed. I’d set all the timers for the Turkey and the spuds, but still had so much to do in time for the Christmas dinner, when all I really wanted to do was sit down with my husband and my kids, Lewis, then 31, Fern, 25, and Max, 16. They were laughing away, playing board games and waiting for me to come in so they could start opening presents. But every year it seems to take forever to prep and cook the food – and every year I ask myself whether it…

And… relax 29 October-11 November 2024 ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr As a Fire sign you struggle to keep your cool when provoked, but you might surprise yourself in the coming weeks when you stay quiet about your views. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Uranus in Taurus asks if there’s a better way of doing things that is in line with your vision. Don’t be afraid to change direction as it might be just what you need. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun Jupiter’s been in your sign for six months. What’s changed during this time? Where do you need to expand your horizons? Luck is on your side, so go for it! CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul Reflect on changes you made last month while Mars…

Nadia ‘WE MAKE THE SPAGHETTI FROM THE FILM ELF’ Like a lot of us, for Nadia Sawalha, Christmas is all about the food. The star, who is mum to daughters Maddie, 21, and Kiki, 17, revealed, ‘My girls [also] like to make the chocolate spaghetti from Elf… it’s tradition.’ And when it comes to the main event, the star, 59, goes all out, sharing, ‘I make my own cranberry and bread sauces. I like a bit of cauliflower cheese, and I always do parsley and shallot carrots, and honey and hazelnut parsnips.’ Sounds delicious, what time shall we come, Nads? Kaye ‘MY CHRISTMAS COOKING IS A DISASTER!’ Unlike her bestie Nadia, Kaye Adams isn’t a pro in the kitchen. She admitted, ‘I’ve only ever cooked a Christmas turkey once –…

HOLIDAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS? Breaking the news to family members that you’re going away at Christmas isn’t always easy Driving home for Christmas… red lights all around, goes the iconic Chris Rea song. A carol dedicated to just one of the stresses of the festive season with family – blooming getting there in the first place! And, please note, it’s ‘red lights’ not ‘red mist’, though for an increasing number of us, the second option is possibly more accurate. Because rather than peaceful silent nights, the run-up to the big day can leave you more explosive than a Brussels sprout in a pressure cooker. Which is why an estimated 5 million of us are set to head abroad this year either for some winter sun or proper festive snow and…

1 MAKE A GRATITUDE LIST Give yourself just 30 seconds each day to run through a list of all the things you love. Thinking really fast is proven to boost your mood, found US researchers. 2 SING AWAY SADNESS Christmas songs stuck in your head? Hum or sing them aloud – it’s a simple way to stimulate your vagus nerve, which helps to keep us calm. 3 CUT BACK ON CAFFEINE Yes, those coffee-shop festive specials are tempting, but caffeine increases the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which can leave us feeling anxious. Gradually reduce your intake and track how you feel. 4 PRACTISE ORIGAMI Don’t bin gift-wrap scraps – fold them! Origami takes focus, giving our brain a rest from overwhelming thoughts, says Dr Rachel Taylor*. Find free demos…

IF YOU DIDN’T KILL HER by Annie Taylor (£8.99, PB, Penguin) After spending 15 years in prison for ‘murdering’ her friend and university housemate, Chelsea is finding it hard to adapt to life on the outside. The world has changed drastically and Chelsea has become infamous with crime-loving podcast obsessives. But one thing hasn’t changed – her innocence. Chelsea knows she didn’t kill Izzy, but that means someone she knows did. As Chelsea revisits her student life, Taylor examines the complicated nature of female friendships – and how you can love and hate each other in equal measure. MARY’S FOOLPROOF DINNERS by Mary Berry (£28, HB, Ebury) Take the stress out of supper with 120 fuss-free recipes from national treasure Mary Berry. Featuring beautiful photographs and easy-to-follow steps, this handy…

If you see someone wandering the aisles of a supermarket wearing a sparkly outfit and popping Yuletide snacks into their basket, there’s a chance it could be Lorraine Kelly, a self-confessed lover of the festive season. So what does she enjoy about Christmas the most? ‘Everything!’ she says. ‘I love it when we put our decorations up at work. Everybody feels a wee bit brighter.’ However, Lorraine, 64, admits that Christmas seems to begin earlier every year. ‘I mean, I love it all, and I understand people embracing it, because that’s what I do. But I don’t want to hear Mariah Carey shrieking at me in September!’ she laughs. Precious memories When it comes to decorations, Lorraine says, ‘There’s never a fancy theme, and nothing matches. It’s all higgledy piggledy.…

Sequinned tops Nail that jeans and top combo with these beauties. Keep it relaxed and tuck in the front to add definition to the waist. Sparkly skirts Get more mileage and dress down a statement skirt with a cosy knit for a cool smart-casual look. Offset the slinky style with a slouchier top half. Chic blazers Guaranteed to sharpen up any look, wear unbuttoned over a cami, or dress to skim over your shape or opt for a belted style for added structure. Jazzy jumpsuits The stylish alternative to a dress, look for V necklines and tie detailing to enhance the bust and highlight your figure. Shiny trousers Embrace some Saturday Night Fever vibes in these metallic must-haves. A wide-leg silhouette elongates your pins. Add heels for maximum impact. Smart…

Placing a paper bag by the fireplace, my son Callum, then three, looked up at me. ‘Will he really come tonight?’ he asked, eyes wide. ‘Santa would never let you down,’ I nodded. It was the summer of 2018 but Christmas was already on our minds. Recently, I’d persuaded Callum to give up his beloved dummies and suggested putting them in a bag and leaving them for Father Christmas so that he’d be on the ‘Nice List’ when Christmas Eve came around. The next morning, Callum came rushing downstairs. ‘He took them!’ he grinned, finding the dummies gone and a present in their place. Ripping open the wrapping paper, Callum pulled out a red costume. ‘A Santa suit,’ he beamed. Like most kids his age, he had embraced the magic…

CAN I DRINK ON MY MEDICATION? Q Currently, I’m taking an antibiotic called metronidazole for a tooth infection. My dentist told me not to drink alcohol when I was taking it, but didn’t say how soon afterwards I could drink again. This is a recurring issue for me, so it would be good to know the ‘rules’ before Christmas party season. A Metronidazole is chemically similar to a medication we give to alcoholics who want to stop drinking. Mixing the two can give severe side effects, such as stomach pain, difficulty breathing, a pounding heartbeat, vomiting and dizziness. We recommend that you avoid all alcohol while taking metronidazole and for two days after finishing the treatment. Why is dancing now difficult? Q As a family, we love to dance, but…

For HER £10 AND UNDER £30 AND UNDER £20 AND UNDER £40 AND UNDER TREAT HER For HIM £10 AND UNDER £30 AND UNDER £20 AND UNDER £40 AND UNDER TREAT HIM For KIDS £10 AND UNDER £30 AND UNDER £20 AND UNDER £40 AND UNDER TREAT THEM For TEENS £10 AND UNDER £30 AND UNDER £20 AND UNDER £40 AND UNDER TREAT THEM Stocking FILLERS £10 AND UNDER…

Cushions Scatter some joy on your sofa this season Tree toppers Finish off your Christmas tree perfectly Wreaths Add some festive cheer to your front door Tree skirts Hide the base of your tree in style Baubles Adorn your tree with fun and jolly decs Stockings Fill with special gifts for your loved ones…

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 Limbo in the French town of Saint-Tropez was the sand-floored first boutique to be opened by which fashion designer? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ARMANIBOSSCAVALLICHANELDIORFORDGAULTIERGUCCI GUERLAINJACOBSKLEINLANCOMELAUDERMUGLERRABANNE CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Dame _ Lumley, star of TV’s Absolutely Fabulous (6) 4 Josh _, star of films Eighth Grade and Dark Skies (8) 10 Frankenstein Must Be _, 1969 horror film (9) 11 Broken fragment (5) 12 Pulped food (5) 13 Divulge identities (4,5) 14 2023 true-story film starring 4 Across, 9 Down and 25 Down (7) 16 _ for Speed, video game…

Welcome to Christmas with the Kemps! As we sit down with Shirlie, 62, and Martin, 63, to find out how they spend the happiest time of the year, we quickly wish we had an invite. From Shirlie admitting she’s drunk on champagne by 2pm, to the couple revealing their favourite festive hits from the 80s, it sounds like a blast in the Kemp household. The couple are excited to be celebrating with their family, including daughter Harley, 35, a musician, photographer and producer, and son Roman, 31, a well-known presenter and podcaster. So as well as the usual turkey, gifts and decorations, what’s the one very noisy tradition they absolutely can’t do without? We’ll let them fill you in… Hi guys! When do you start getting ready for Christmas? Shirlie:…

Romesh Ranganathan ‘I WANTED TO SHOUT OUT THE ANSWERS!’ The comedian on hosting his fun new quiz show… Anyone who’s ever had to go to a school parents’ evening will know that they’re not much fun, but there are laughs aplenty in Romesh Ranganathan’s version! Each week, three celebrities team up with their adult offspring or a parent for the quiz that tests their general knowledge and how well they know each other. In each round, the parent chooses the questions and must bid on how many answers they think their son or daughter will get right. Keeping score is Romesh’s mum, Shanthi, who has appeared with her son in BBC2’s The Ranganation and BBC3’s Asian Provocateur. So how would they fare if they were playing the game? ‘Mum would…

My heart thumping, I looked over at the tall figure in red and white and smiled. Dressed in velvet trousers and a long matching coat, he looked just the part in shiny black boots and a red hat. His face was almost completely covered in a big white beard and huge sideburns, but there was a cheeky twinkle in his eye I recognised. ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!’ he chimed in a much deeper voice than I was used to. He was without a doubt the best looking Santa I’d ever seen. A big round belly and fluffy beard weren’t usually my thing, but there was something about this Santa that made me giddy. ‘A FLUFFY BEARD WASN’T USUALLY MY THING’ A CONVINCING JOB I was too scared to talk to him…