Innholdsfortegnelse for 9-Jan-2023 i Woman

DAVINA McCALL After battling a drug addiction in her early 20s, Davina McCall turned to sobriety aged 25 and hasn’t looked back. The 55-year-old explained, ‘I had to grieve not drinking. That was so sad. But I knew that alcohol was the gateway to drugs for me, and it would still be the gateway. It’s just not worth it.’ Davina insists she’s still the life and soul of the party, saying of one do, ‘I’m leading the conga round this nightclub to mental rave music, and we’re all going completely mad, and I’m just as mad as everybody else, but I’m stone-cold sober.’ Good for you, Davina! BRADLEY COOPER In the 2018 hit film A Star is Born Bradley Cooper played alcoholic superstar Jackson Maine and it seems the plot…

1 Grow them out It’s normal for eyebrows to get more sparse as we age, but having lived through the thin brow trend of the 1990s certainly doesn’t help. If you have very thin brows, stop plucking them for at least eight weeks – this will allow you to see what they really look like in their natural state. You can boost growth with a serum like The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum, £12.40, Boots. Perseverence is key – use it daily and you’ll notice a difference within a few weeks. 2 Find your perfect shape ‘Brows will always look the most beautiful and help balance all facial features if they follow their natural shape,’ says Vanita Parti MBE, founder of Blink Brow Bar. ‘Don’t try and create what…

Nestled in bed, a baby in each arm, I should’ve been so happy, but instead I wanted to end my life. After months of terror, separated from my twins by COVID-19 restrictions, I believed my family would be better off without me. Becoming a mum was always one of my life goals, and after Tom and I met in a pub in November 2011, we both knew that one day we wanted to have a family together. I found out I was expecting twins at my 12-week scan in late 2019, and we were stunned but delighted. In January 2020, at 17 weeks pregnant, I learned that I had Selective Intrauterine Growth Restriction (sIUGR) type 2, which meant one of my identical twins had a smaller share of the placenta…

Cheesy nacho burger These loaded burgers have got everything you’re craving, so there’s no need to reach for the takeaway menu. SERVES 4 PREP 20 MINS COOK 12 MINS ✱ 40g lightly-salted tortilla chips ✱ 40g reduced-fat Cheddar cheese, finely grated ✱ Low-calorie cooking spray ✱ ½ red pepper, deseeded and finely sliced ✱ ½ green pepper, deseeded and finely sliced ✱ 4 reduced-fat processed cheese slices ✱ 4 wholemeal rolls, about 60g each, sliced in half ✱ 30g sliced jalapeño peppers, drained, from a jar ✱ 2tbsp light mayonnaise ✱ ½tsp sriracha sauce For the burgers: ✱ 250g 5%-fat minced beef ✱ ½tsp smoked paprika ✱ ½tsp chilli powder ✱ ¼tsp garlic granules ✱ ¼tsp onion granules ✱ ¼tsp ground cumin ✱ ¼tsp dried oregano For the guacamole: ✱…

It’s almost time to go. Jackie has poured us all a stiff drink to steady our nerves and Stella has been at the window looking out for the car that will take us to the church. Last time we went to the church was to say our goodbyes to Diane, who used to live in number four. ‘Is anyone else nervous?’ Stella asks. We nod. Who’d have thought a year ago we’d be doing this? Number four had stood empty for ages after Diane died. My neighbours Stella and Jackie and I were all surprised when a sold sign finally went up. A few weeks later, we gathered on Jackie’s front lawn to watch as a removal lorry was unloaded. ‘Have you seen the new people?’ Stella asked. ‘Only removal…

STEPH McGOVERN ‘I have to be honest I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions because a few days into January I’ve always given up! But my view going into each year is just to do things that make you happy. That’s my philosophy and I think it’s better than forcing yourself to do something like “I have to get fit this year”’. DENISE VAN OUTEN ‘I try not to think about making resolutions to be honest but just to spend time with those who mean the most to me.’ CLAIRE SWEENEY ‘It’s always the same, to keep to the diet. But not be too hard on myself. It’s always been “I need to lose a stone” but actually, curves are back in so why not embrace the woman you are.…

If you needed an excuse to overhaul your beauty cabinets, this would be it. Opting for larger products can save money – and the planet – by reducing the amount bought and plastic used. Grabbing L’Oréal’s bumper-sized curl mask with your food shop means you won’t reach the end as quickly, and Noughty’s jumbo shampoo works out at just 20p a pump. So, go big – your purse and the planet will thank you. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water 700ml, £7.99, Waitrose & Partners; Noughty Wave Hello Shampoo 1ltr, £20.99, lovenoughty.co.uk; L’Oréal Elvive Dream Lengths 3-in-1 Curls Hydration Mask 680ml, £6.80, Ocado…

WOMAN’S GP DR PHILIPPA KAYE ON HER TOPIC OF THE WEEK It’s the first week of January – the time when everyone is talking about New Year’s resolutions. The promises that you make yourself each year that, in reality, most people only manage to keep for a few weeks or so before breaking! There are lots of reasons why it can be so hard to keep them, one of which is that we make them too complex. So break down your aims into smaller goals. After all, it’s better to make small changes which you can stick to over time and then slowly progress, than to aim for big changes which are unachievable. Small, imperfect steps, over unachievable perfection, is how you will make effective progress. Here’s what…

Get the look ✱ Use a monochrome palette with touches of warm brass metallics for a luxurious look. ✱ Keep lines sharp, using a four-poster to frame your sleep space and echoing the same angles through black framed prints and a blocky bedside table. ✱ Try to tidy away any clutter that accumulates on a bedside table. Drawer styles are perfect for squirrelling away day-to-day items. ✱ Add interest to a two-tone colour palette with plenty of texture through velvet and bouclé fabric furnishings. Get the look ✱ Stick to a Scandi look, with natural wooden elements and a stripped-back colour scheme. ✱ Layer bed linen, with textured bedding sets, quilted covers and woven throws. ✱ Upholstered beds look and feel luxurious, but they can be quite expensive. Opt for…

IF YOU LOVE TO WIN PRIZES THEN VISIT comps.womanmagazine.co.uk What do Hillary Clinton and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have in common? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the shaded squares to find the four-word answer. ACROSS 1 Picture (5)4 Elevated (4)6 Subatomic particle (8)13 Lessons (7)14 Empowered (7)15 Inexperienced (5)16 Level and regular (4)17 Autographed (6)18 Harsh, strict (6)20 Casserole (4)21 Courage (5)22 Customs (6)25 Common atmospheric gas (8)28 Drink made from beans (6)30 Take it easy (5)32 Range of colours (8)34 Wealthy, informally (6)35 Percussion instrument (4)38 Mistakes (6)39 Arrive at (5)40 Relating to teeth (6)43 Reflected sound (4)44 Type of dance (6)45 Prepare for a performance (8)48 The matter at hand (5)49 Part of a tree (6)51 Handheld firework (8)54 Combining (6)55 Person (5)56 Second-hand…

They were once closer than close; brothers in arms, quite literally. When Princes William and Harry were living together and training to fly helicopters, they would affectionately joke around and even finish each other’s sentences. The banter could be pretty brutal (William’s thinning hair was an endless source of fun) – but the affection was real, and clear for all to see. Fast-forward to 2023 and the start of a new year – often a time of hope, of reconciliation, of new beginnings. The thought that William and Harry would bury the hatchet after all-out war has quickly receded. The Netflix napalm has burned so brightly, it has at times threatened to burn down the very walls of Buckingham Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shredded the reputations…

Guest columnist ISN’T IT TIME FOR MIKE AND ZARA TINDALL TO GET A ROYAL CALL-UP? Long Live King of the Jungle Mike Tindall! Yes, yes, I know, brilliant footballer Jill Scott won I’m A Celebrity… and was rightly crowned Queen. But Mike won it for me! He gave enough away to be totally hilarious (such as revealing how he ripped his trousers in front of Princess Anne doing a ‘sl*t drop’ on the dancefloor at wife Zara ’s 30th), but said very little about royal life, aside from how he met Zara and that people do actually live in Buckingham Palace. And despite spending weeks in the jungle, the former England rugby player, 44, came across as a thoroughly decent bloke. It got me thinking – maybe King Charles has…

Give your knitwear a glamorous edge, like FRANKIE BRIDGE Stay warm and stylish in jumper dresses and fuzzy coats, perfect for taking your look from day to night. Nail that high-low look by mixing textures – a chunky knit with a silky skirt, finished with delicate gold jewellery. Mix and match cosy separates for an effortless look, like GWYNETH PALTROW Winter dressing is about mastering that comfy yet cool look. Opt for wide-leg trousers and oversized knits for a relaxed fit and stick to a neutral palette.…

As the gender pay gap continues to rise, new research has found that, on average, women take home £564 less per month than men in 2022. And while we’d hoped things were improving, that figure is actually higher than the previous year. In April 2022, the gap was recorded at 8.3%, but in April 2021, it was 7.7%. In many relationships, women find themselves on a lower income than their partner, whether they’re juggling childcare or care for elderly parents or simply being paid less than the men in their workplace. But for some couples, women are bringing home the biggest pay cheque. ‘I WANT TO BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR MY DAUGHTER’ Frederike Harms, 40, is a senior director. She lives in Southampton with her partner Ben, 42,…

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Puzzles and stars ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Remember the tortoise and the hare? Speeding along at the rate of knots will be counterproductive. So start as you mean to go on and take your time. With everything. For your reading ☎09058 172557 TAURUS 21 Apr – 21 May Travel continues to have its share of irritations, especially if you have a journey on Friday. Expect to be delayed and diverted. The weekend has a surprise up its sleeve. For your reading ☎09058 172558 GEMINI 22 May – 22 Jun It’s OK to delay a meeting or to ask for extra time. Better to have all the information you need and know absolutely how you feel. You’re not the only one with questions. For your reading ☎09058 172559 CANCER…

Most heating systems need a control hub, and a smart thermostat is just that. It’s usually made up of two devices, one links to your boiler, while the actual thermostat is a wireless gadget you have on display, allowing you to check the room temperature or adjust it remotely. You can schedule a time or drop in temperature to trigger your heating to come on, helping you to monitor your usage. Best for… simplicity Wiser Thermostat Kit 1, from £159.99, shop.se.com For a stripped back and simple interface, look no further than the Wiser thermostat kit 1. The system is easy to use and can be voice-controlled through Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. You can also expand your kit by buying add-ons, such as radiator valve thermostats, to give…

Columnist SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR AMAZING NHS The first ever improvised episode of Casualty last month did an astonishing job of raising awareness about how tough it is to be a paramedic right now. As a piece of television, watching the crews lurch from one crisis to another was pretty brutal. We saw a baby being delivered on a bus, a woman with a nut allergy stop breathing, a man with psychosis wielding a knife and a bloke with a bone sticking out of his arm having to wait eight hours. Which was stressful enough. But then came the drunk patients shouting the odds, furious non-urgent patients wanting to know why they couldn’t get a bed and other patients that shouldn’t have been patients at all wondering if someone…