Innholdsfortegnelse for September 8, 2025 i Woman's Own

Often in a rush and don’t want to faff around with elaborate meals? On p32 we have easy family favourites, on the table in 30 minutes or fewer. If you’re always looking for a time saver, these are the perfect ones for you! In fact, this issue is full of handy ways to save you either minutes or money. On p16, there’s designer style for less – where our brilliant fashion team help you look like an A-lister on a high-street budget (that M&S bag is such a great deal!). There are bargain home buys on p42 that are all under £20 (I love the glass mushroom!) and, on p36, swot up on how to give yourself a money makeover. Our campaign to ban social media for under-16s continues and,…

SCHOOL’S BACK, BOOZE ISN’T That autumn ‘back to school’ feeling never leaves you, no matter how old you are. But the students of today heading to college for the first time are shunning the traditional pastimes of boozing, boozing and, er, more boozing. Instead, there’s a growing demand for yoga societies, meditation circles and sober socials. Taking this with a degree of scepticism, according to the Health Survey for England, the proportion of 16- to 24-year-olds who reported drinking alcohol in the past week fell from 67% in 2002 to 36% in 2022. Meanwhile, Live Yoga Teachers, an online platform offering yoga classes to universities and student accommodation providers, says demand has soared since 2023. Downward dog over hair of the dog, then! WHAT HAPPENED TO AGEING THE WAY NATURE…

Paprika chicken Alfredo SERVES 2 Whip up this easy pasta for a perfect date night in (you’ll have leftovers), or stretch to feed the whole family (see tip). YOU WILL NEED 200g fettuccine pasta2 skinless chicken breasts1tsp garlic granules2tbsp smoked paprika20g unsalted butter1tbsp vegetable oil2 garlic cloves, chopped200ml chicken stock200ml double cream40g Parmesan cheese, finely grated, plus more (optional) to serve10g parsley, leaves chopped HOW TO DO IT 1 Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for 2 mins less than the packet instructions, then drain, reserving some of the cooking water. 2 Meanwhile, cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss with the garlic granules and half the smoked paprika. 3 Melt the butter in a pan with the oil over a medium-high…

Hunched over the toilet, I just wanted the awful feeling to be over. I’d never felt so nauseous and drained. ‘It wasn’t like this before,’ I cried to my partner Michael, then 37. After all, I had plenty of experience. It was August 2017 and I was pregnant for the sixth time. But every other pregnancy had been a breeze; in fact, I’d loved it. The last time had been almost a decade earlier, when I was 30 and now, I was touching 40. I reminded myself it would all be worth it, though, because I loved nothing more than being a mum. ‘I WAS ONLY 17 WHEN I FIRST FELL PREGNANT’ I was only 17 when I fell pregnant for the first time in April 1997. It was a…

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 A section of the Silverstone racing track is named for which Formula 1 driver? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ALONSOASCARIBRABHAMBUTTONCLARKFANGIOHAMILTONHILLHULMELAUDAPIQUETPROSTSENNASTEWARTVETTEL Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words. There is one nine-letter word, for which the clue is: sleepiness hormone. 25 = average. More than 45 = well done CROSSWORD ACROSS DOWN Puzzle solutions CLUES & ARROWS…

Film THE CONJURING: LAST RITES In cinemas 5 September In the ninth instalment of the supernatural horror franchise, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one last terrifying case involving a powerful demonic entity. Tour RIVERDANCE 30: THE NEW GENERATION Until 14 December, multiple locations, including Oxford, Nottingham and Glasgow To mark its 30th anniversary, the iconic Irish dancing show takes to the stage at 30 venues across the UK. Featuring innovative choreography, costumes and state-of-the-art lighting, projection and motion graphics. Show MURDER AT MIDNIGHT 5 Sept 2025-4 April 2026, multiple locations, including Derby, Cardiff and Ipswich, tickets from £15 Soap favourites Jason Durr (Casualty), Susie Blake (Coronation Street) and Max Bowden (EastEnders) star in this thrilling new play about a murder that takes place at a New Year’s…

Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding ‘WE GET UPSET WHEN THE BAKERS GO HOME!’ The presenting duo are back with a new series of The Great British Bake Off… The iconic white tent is up and the bunting is out for the 16th run of the baking contest that sees a new batch of 12 amateur bakers being put through their paces by judges Dame Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood. Keeping an eye on all the whisking, kneading and folding are Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding, who reunite for their third time hosting together… ‘WE BOND AND BECOME FRIENDS’ ‘It’s just an incredible year,’ says Alison. ‘Every one I’ve done has been fantastic in its own right. Each has been a completely different Bake Off, but just as good.’ As ever,…

Ruth ‘CARING FOR MUM RESTS ON ME’ Ruth Langsford has opened up about looking after her mum, Joan, who has Alzheimer’s disease. The 94-year-old lives in a care home, but Ruth manages her personal affairs, including taking her to medical appointments and doing her shopping. The Loose Women star, 65, said in an interview that while she’s ‘fortunate [Joan’s] care home is literally around the corner’ and she knows she’s ‘been well looked after,’ her mum’s wellbeing is ‘always in the back of [her] mind’. The presenter went on to share the sort of things she does for her mum... ‘I take her flowers every week, I pick flowers from the garden. If I’m out and I see something, I think, “Oh, Mum would like that,” or I’ll get her…

RED ALERT Enjoy some dopamine dressing with this bold cardi. Cardigan, £40, sizes xs-2xl, Next SLIDE SHOW Slip into these raffia loafers for a chic and comfy upgrade. Shoes, £29.99, New Look PARTY PEEPERS Crease-proof colour. Morphe Eyeshadow Palette, £16, lookfantastic.com WEAVE INTO A rustic-inspired basket to store your fruit. Bowl, £6, Primark FINISHING TOUCHES Swap your jewellery for this vibrant neckerchief. Bandana, £17.99, Zara SUNSET SHADES Ease yourself into the new season in rich browns and burnt orange. (L-r): Jumper, £20, skirt, £36, dress, £44, all sizes 8-32, JD Williams. Bag and jewellery, stylist’s own. WHAT A STUD Brown is the new black and this will go with everything. Bag, £32, Accessorize PALM READING Year-round sunshine. Picture, £16 (framed), East End Prints at Dunelm OFF THE CUFF A statement…

WHY AM I BLEEDING? Q Roughly five years ago, I had my last period and was lucky to have been spared most menopausal symptoms that many of my friends told me about. So I never went on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But then last week, out of the blue, I had a full-on period. It lasted for four days and then stopped, and I have had nothing after that – but it has worried me. Should I see my GP? A Yes. Post-menopausal bleeding is not an uncommon symptom, and it is not usually seen as anything serious, but it can occasionally be an early sign of cancer. Your GP will want to see you to arrange an ultrasound scan and refer you to a specialist, who will hopefully be…

Look for a base with benefits Lighter and breathable foundations that provide plenty of coverage while letting your natural skin shine through will look much dewier than anything too heavy or thick. Collection Lasting Perfection Satin Foundation, £7.99, Boots, has a satin finish to brighten your complexion and contains plenty of skincare-style ingredients like collagen peptides to keep your skin feeling soft and supple while you wear it. Pixi On-The-Glow-Base Foundation Moisture Stick, £22, Boots, is packed full of natural goodies to wake up dreary skin and can easily be swiped on to leave your face looking clear and polished. Be skincare savvy Your skincare can completely lift the appearance of your complexion and give your face a dewiness while keeping it nourished and hydrated. Start with a serum like…

2-8 September 2025 ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Look more deeply into a certain situation before making any further decisions. Perhaps you don’t have all the info you need just yet. Wait patiently, more will be revealed. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May You’re a force to be reckoned with when you’re crystal clear about your direction. Now that you have this vision, act and know that this will be fulfilled. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun You’ve been working steadily towards an important goal and the end is in sight. Keep positive about the direction you’re heading and your hard work will pay off. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul You’re a gentle soul who needs reassurance and encouragement to follow the path you know is right for…

BUCKEYE by Patrick Ryan (£16.99, HB, Bloomsbury) Ohio. In the aftermath of World War II, a passionate moment between Cal Jenkins and Margaret Salt entangles their lives – and those of their partners – forever more. Cal is tortured by his inability to serve within the armed forces. His wife Becky can converse fluently with the dead. Margaret was abandoned at an orphanage as a baby and still wonders why her mother left her. Felix Salt is scarred by his experiences serving in the Navy. Decades later, on the brink of another war, the consequences of Cal and Margaret’s secret encounter rock both families. An epic, sweeping novel about love and forgiveness. PAPER HEART by Cecelia Ahern (£20, HB, HarperCollins) Pip has never really felt in control of her own…

Headphones on, staring at my laptop, I was on a work video call while sipping coffee in my local cafe when a kind woman passed by and pressed a folded-up piece of paper into my hand. Opening it, I grinned proudly. ‘I love your outfit,’ she’d written. I looked up just in time to see her giving a friendly wave as she walked out the door. I smiled, feeling so elated, because every item of clothing that I was wearing – from the purple lace-up boots, down to the blue baggy jeans, black top and floor-length designer corduroy jacket, even the gold hoops and silver rings – had all been bought second hand for next to nothing. In fact, for almost a decade, the only new clothes I’d bought were…

Buy of the week Don’t let vaginal dryness disrupt your sex life – try Issviva x Joylux Lubrication Gel (£14.99 for 75ml, issviva.co.uk). THE TO-DO LIST TAKE A TRIP Positive travel experiences can help lower the risk of premature ageing by boosting your immune system and lowering stress, says research**. SCENT YOUR CAR Prone to road rage? A peppermint car freshener could boost alertness and feelings of calm, say researchers at Northumbria University. EAT SMART Filling up on fruit, fibre and dairy may lower the risk of tinnitus, says research from China. It’s believed this is due to their anti-inflammatory properties. If you do one thing Learn to stop overthinking A few simple tricks can help you to gain perspective Do you dwell on awkward situations or rehash conversations? ‘Overthinking…

She should diet ‘properly’ Q My best friend has always been very overweight. She recently lost a lot of weight (two stone so far), and I was happy for her. I’ve found out she’s taking weight-loss medication. I can’t help but feel that she’s taken the easy way out. I know it’s none of my business, but I wish she’d do it properly. A I doubt very much that your friend has taken the easy way out when choosing a weight-loss injection. In fact, with so much weight to lose, it’s likely that she talked to her GP and made an informed decision. And even if she didn’t, what she decides to do for her own health isn’t up to you. Reflect on why this really annoys you so much…

Autistic. That was a word that my parents didn’t share with my sister Liz or me when we were children. They offered no explanation as to why our older brother Lionel rocked, or bit his hand when agitated, or asked interminable questions about bus routes and train times. Instead, a low-lying cloud of mystery permeated the household. Liz – who was four years older than me – and I never asked our parents questions about our brother. We picked up that Lionel’s behaviour wasn’t a suitable topic of conversation. It’s hardly surprising that Lionel’s autism wasn’t a regular topic around our kitchen table. In 1949, when he was born, few medical professionals had heard of autism. He didn’t start speaking until he was nearly five but became fully verbal and…

READER QUESTION Q How does a Junior ISA work and what are the advantages and disadvantages of opening one? A Junior Individual Savings Accounts are long-term, tax-free savings accounts for children. In this 2025/2026 tax year, the savings limit is £9,000. There are cash Junior ISAs, and stocks and shares Junior ISAs; your child can have one or both types. Parents or guardians can open a Junior ISA and manage the account, but the money belongs to the child; they can take control of the account when they’re 16, but can’t withdraw the money until they turn 18*. Find more details at gov.uk/junior-individual-savings-accounts. Go green for less Pilling can make your clothes go from smart to shabby, so consider getting a fabric shaver (known as de-bobblers) to remove unsightly fabric…

The past year has been one of intense highs and deep lows for Cheryl. Twelve months ago she was coming down from the high of the Girls Aloud reunion tour, but had no idea that in just a few weeks’ time, the father of her son Bear, Liam Payne, would pass away at the age of just 31, in a tragic incident in Argentina. So it is perhaps no surprise that, since then, she has kept a low profile. That was until news emerged that she is making her big return to the showbiz spotlight with a brand-new campaign for beauty brand Nivea. In a shock move, the brand posted a video of the 42-year-old star on its social media, revealing she was to be the face of its Cellular…