Innholdsfortegnelse for May 12, 2025 i Woman's Own

Dinner ideas can be hard to come by and often time is a big factor, so it’s easy to fall back on the same rotation of meals. On p32, find all you need to rustle up dinner in a dash – with recipes that promise to become new family favourites. Just look at that gooey cheeseburger! This issue isn’t just full of time-savers, though – there are money savers too. On p16, you can get the A-list look for less, with brilliant bargain buys. The M&S swimsuit is a big hit in the office – everyone is raving about the colour! But I can’t avoid talking about the most controversial topic we’ve perhaps ever discussed… Of course, I’m talking about Eurovision! The debate on p43 about whether it’s had its…

THE GREAT BRITISH SUMMER! As the season creeps upon us, have we got rose-tinted glasses on? Absolutely no idea how it got to be May, but suddenly here we are, whether we like it or not. According to that saucy old ditty, at this time of year we’re meant to be getting frisky outdoors, while at the same time ‘ne’er casting a clout till May is out’. Clout is an old-fashioned word for clothing, so if you’re going to have a roll in the, er, rolling hills of our green and pleasant land, don’t forget your thermals. But it’s true, isn’t it? Come May, the madness of Brits and our summer season unleashes in a floaty, floral-frocked hell. Take the horse racing. A peculiarity of the British summer where Ladies…

Struggle to reach the ‘big O’? You’re not alone – women are four times less likely to climax during sex than a man*. Not only is this frustrating, but it means we’re missing out on the mind and body benefits of having regular orgasms. Yes – toe-curling pleasure could help to lower the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, says research**. Are you feeling unfulfilled? Don’t fret. We asked our experts how you can ensure you sizzle – not fizzle – between the sheets… BE HONEST Do you ever fake an orgasm to avoid awkwardness or to protect your partner’s feelings? ‘When you fake it, you're sending a message to your brain that the sensations you're feeling should be pleasurable – even when they're not,’ explains sex and…

Marmite and cheese burgers SERVES 4 Marmite gives the patties a deeply savoury flavour that even the skeptics will get on board with. PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 15 MINS CALS: 668 FAT: 45G SAT FAT: 16G CARBS: 30G YOU WILL NEED Vegetable oil, for frying150g shallots, finely chopped1tsp very finely chopped rosemary500g beef mince2tsp Marmite80g Cheddar, cut into 4 equal piecesBrioche buns, mayonnaise and lettuce, to serveCooked oven fries, to serve (optional) HOW TO DO IT 1 Heat a drizzle of oil in a large, nonstick frying pan. Add the chopped shallots and fry for 3-5 mins until soft. Stir in the rosemary, then remove the pan from the heat. 2 Put the mince in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add the Marmite, shallots and…

When I was young, I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up. In fact, I wanted it so much I thought I’d get some practice in early. So one day, when I was 13, I knocked on our neighbour’s door and said, ‘Can I take your baby out for a walk?’ All my friends were thinking about clothes shopping and sleepovers, while I was much more interested in babysitting. I loved babies. I loved children. And all I wanted in life was to be a mammy. Until that time came, I loved being at home in Ireland with my two brothers, Craig and Ian, sister Claire and our mam and dad. I was happy when I was with my friends, too, although I hated formal occasions…

WHY GO? Beauty is off the charts in southern Norway, with fjords, lofty mountains, salmon-filled rivers and crash-bang falls that elicit gasps of wonder. Try as you might, no photo can ever do these landscapes justice. But in a country that prizes ‘friluftsliv’ (outdoor living), nature isn’t just there to be admired – it’s there to be embraced. Dive deeper and you’ll find cultured cities, progressive arts scenes and season-led restaurants that sing of land and sea. TAKE TO THE WATER Stavanger and Bergen act as springboards to the fjords, with multiple tours departing from both cities. Fjord Tours (fjordtours.com) runs fully electric cruises across Lysefjord, passing islands, towering cliffs, rainbow-kissed falls and the iconic Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock). Or ramp up the speed on an inflatable boat ride with Fjord…

LISA RILEY We did a double take when Emmerdale’s Lisa Riley shared this snap of herself twinning with her body double on set. The pair clearly got on like a house on fire, as Lisa wrote, ‘As if one Mandy Dingle was not enough this morning filming at the village at Emmerdale… you get two! Thank you to my lovely body double, Angela – absolute sweetheart. Next time you get Mandy’s cowboy boots also. Just another day at work!’ CHRIS PRATT ‘It takes a village of mes to be me,’ joked Hollywood heavyweight Chris, 45, when he shared this snap from the set of Jurassic World Dominion alongside his stunt doubles Alistair Whitton, Clay Chamberlin and Chris Romrell. RYAN GOSLING Two Kens means twice the fun! We bet actor Ryan,…

Standing back, I watched proudly as a crowd of people took photographs of my creation, whispering to each other about how amazing it was. As clichéd as it sounds, I almost had to pinch myself that it was really happening. It was May 2023 and this was my first floral display at The Chelsea Flower Show. I’d created a beautiful compass out of fresh and dried flowers and called it ‘Time to change’. It actually summed me up perfectly, because just a few years ago, working with flowers for a living was nothing more than a dream, With my 50th birthday approaching I’d taken the plunge and it was the best thing I ever did. When I was a child, I spent many happy hours helping my grandfather, Jack, in…

Denise’s NEW MAN She’s been unlucky in love in the past, but after 18 months as a single woman it appears Denise Van Outen is officially off the market and has a new man making her smile. It’s been reported that the presenter, 50, has been enjoying secret dates with businessman Adam Butler, with him even joining her on her recent trip to the Maldives. A source close to the star shared, ‘Denise loved being single and has been so busy with her TV work and DJ-ing but Adam is someone she’s enjoyed spending time with.’ The insider added that thanks to her new man, Denise is feeling the best she’s felt in a long time, saying, ‘She is in a great place in her life. Her career is soaring…

TWINKLE TOES Add some subtle sparkle. Shoes, £32.99, H&M LATHER UP Baylis & Harding Jojoba, Vanilla & Almond Oil Hand Wash, £2.25, amazon.co.uk SEEKING SUNSHINE Cord designs are on-trend. Necklace, £12, Accessorize JET, SET, GO! Get away in style. Medium suitcase, £39.99, Home Bargains MAKE A SPLASH Partly recycled materials. Swimsuit, £38, sizes 8-18, And/Or at John Lewis THE RIGHT STRIPES Keep it simple in a cool co-ord. Top, £24.99, and trousers, £36.99, sizes 10-28, sandals, £49, all Damart; jewellery, stylist’s own QUIET LUXURY A chic blouse. Top, £49.99, sizes xs-xxl, lindex.com SITTING PRETTY Update your dining chairs. Seat cushion, £9.99, H&M Home CROSS-BODY Keep your belongings safe. Phone bag, £10, Matalan ALL TIED UP Wrap in your hair or tie around your neck. Scarf, £11.99, New Look MADE UP…

WHEN WILL HRT START WORKING? Q I’ve had menopausal symptoms for a couple of years. My main problems seem to be night sweats and brain fog. The sweats are playing havoc with my sleep. I saw my GP, who has prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which I will start at the weekend. How soon should I notice an improvement? A Night sweats often improve very quickly, sometimes within days of starting HRT. Brain fog and emotional symptoms of the menopause, like mood swings and loss of confidence, can take up to three months to respond. That said, I often find that the improvement starts sooner when women are sleeping better. Sudden allergies Q My husband and I are divorced, and my 14-year-old daughter stays with him every other weekend. He…

Happy hands The skin on your mitts is constantly exposed to the elements, not to mention water, cleaning chemicals and driers. Treat them to the same nourishment your face enjoys with Bare Hands Conditioning Cream, £6, barefeetandhands.co.uk, which leaves skin buttery-soft. Calm down Skin feeling a bit touchy? Aveeno Calm + Restore Foaming Cleanser, £12.99, Boots, lathers to a gentle foam that melts away make-up without stripping skin. Hyaluronic acid and gentle oats help soothe skin with every wash. Protect and perfect The best thing you can do for your skin is wear high-factor sunscreen every single day. St Moriz Face Sunscreen SPF50, £9.99, stmorizcom, feels light, not greasy, with the added hydrating benefit of vitamin E and hyaluronic acid. Get your vitamins Vitamin C is the Swiss army knife…

Morrisons COUNTRY GARDEN Inject a little sunshine into your scheme with yellow shades and colourful floral prints John Lewis MEDITERRANEAN ESCAPE Take inspiration from the Med to bring holiday vibes into your home…

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 Metzenbaum and Mayo are varieties of which of these items? The answer is the one missing from the grid. BOBBINBUTTONCORSETEYELETLACENEEDLENET PATTERN PINSRIBBONSATINSCISSORSTHIMBLETHREADVELVET CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Staircase, rhyming slang (6)4 2001–2004 TV series set in a school, starring Andrew Lincoln and Nina Sosanya (8)10 Gentleman Jack star, __ Jones, star of TV series Doctor Foster and Scott and Bailey (7)11 __ Shore, docusoap set in Newcastle (7)12 __ Strong, star of films Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Nocebo (4)13 Town or village, say (10)15 __ Coyle, Girls Aloud singer (6)16 Commentary (7)20 Rodent with a…

Selin Hizli ‘IT WAS EXCITING BUT NERVE-RACKING!’ The star discusses her latest role in a medical drama… Selin Hizli, who you might recognise as the slightly unhinged and unpredictable Jen in BBC1’s comedy thriller Am I Being Unreasonable?, is among the cast of the second series of twisty medical drama Malpractice. She plays obstetrician Dr Sophia Hernandez who finds herself caught up in the case of Dr James Ford (Tom Hughes). The psychiatric registrar is being probed by the Medical Investigation Unit’s Dr Norma Callahan (Helen Behan) and Dr George Adjei (Jordan Kouamé) after his actions on duty led to a tragic death. ‘This was my first time playing a doctor, so I can say that while I was excited by the prospect, it was also a bit nerve-racking!’ says…

AMANDA ‘I RUN FOR ROSÉ’ Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden, 54, credits running for her svelte figure. ‘I am not a slave to any beauty or fitness regime because I love food too much. I eat cheese and butter and I love a drink,’ she admits. ‘But the deal I struck with myself was I have to run for my rosé wine in the summer… I do it for my own discipline and dignity.’ JEN ‘I WORK OUT WHEREVER’ Due to her busy schedule, keeping fit is no mean feat for Jennifer Aniston. The star, 56, has to utilise every spare moment in order to maintain her toned figure. So, how does she do it? ‘I take eight-pound weights with me whenever I’m staying in a hotel,’ she says.…

Buy of the week Upgrade your caffeine fix with London Nootropics Adaptogenic Coffee (£15 for 12 sachets, londonnootropics.com). Adaptogens are plant extracts that help to boost focus and mood, as well as energy. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to get legs summer-ready If you do one thing Supercharge leftovers Reuse meals to save money and improve your health. With the cost of living on the rise, we all need ways to make our money go further – especially when it comes to feeding the family. And it turns out eating leftovers is good for our health! There’s a nutritional advantage to letting certain foods sit overnight, says dietician Jennie Norton*. ‘Some cooked foods, like pasta and rice, develop resistant starch when cooled, which can support gut health and help with blood…

He’s messing her around Q My youngest daughter is in her late 20s and has seen a man on and off for a few years. It’s clear to everyone that he’s messing her around – he has cheated many times. I wish she’d see this, but she believes he loves her, and has taken him back for the third time after a nasty break-up a few months back. The last time I said something, she refused to speak to me for weeks. A Your daughter is making choices that you can see won’t end well, and it’s painful to watch, but these are her choices. Experience has shown you that she’s not open to the truth. Until she is, your role is to be a safe space for her, offering…

READER QUESTION Q What are the odds of winning the EuroMillions jackpot and becoming a millionaire? A Put simply – extremely low! The EuroMillions jackpot may offer eye-watering sums but the odds of winning it are around just one in 139 million, while the approximate odds of winning the Lotto jackpot are around one in 45 million. So the odds of winning might be better than with EuroMillions but your chances are still extremely low. Go green for less Get 20% off organic skincare, body care, haircare and make-up at Green People when you sign up for the newsletter at greenpeople.co.uk. Offer excludes gift sets, bundles, and gift vouchers. Cannot be combined with any other discount offers. Offer correct at time of going to press. 3 easy ways to... find…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr With Venus back in your sign, you feel more able to make changes around your finances, which will benefit you for the long term. Decide on a plan of action. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May The Sun is now at the midpoint of travelling through your sign. As it does, it’s guiding you to reassess your goals and to find more fulfilment in your daily routine. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun If you’re feeling a bit lacklustre of late, try having a spring clean. Throw out the items you know you don’t need and see how this shifts your energy. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul A gentle Water sign, you can soothe others’ worries, but the Full Moon in your fellow…

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE by Jenny Mustard (£18.99, HB, Hodder & Stoughton) Sickan is ready for a new start. At 21, she has never felt normal. She has never had friends or money, but hopes that Stockholm University will be her chance to reinvent herself. Making up for lost time, Sickan feels like she is starting to find her feet at last. Her new circle of friends feels safe and comforting. And then she meets gorgeous Abbe, who is charming, confident and seems to want her too. As Sickan navigates friendships, love and betrayal, she must decide just how much she is willing to give up in order to finally belong. THE MIDNIGHT CAROUSEL by Fiza Saeed McLynn (£16.99, HB, Penguin) 1914, Paris. Detective Laurent Bisset has been…

BITTER SWEET! The Beeb’s hit series Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps proved an emotional one for Helen Lederer. But it wasn’t all soul-searching for the celebs, as Helen tells me she struck up an unlikely friendship with The Wanted’s Jay McGuiness on the trek. ‘He’s my boy! We just laughed and laughed,’ says Helen, whose memoir Not That I’m Bitter is out now. STILL SWINGING A veteran DJ and the first King of the Jungle on I’m A Celebrity, Tony Blackburn shows no signs of slowing down aged 82 with his Sounds of the 60s live tour, as his 60s All Star Band and Singers still bring in the crowds. ‘I think they’re just turning up to see if I’m still alive,’ he joked to me of the thousands…