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Stick the word ‘Valentine’s’ in front of anything and you’re guaranteed a price hike, a queue, or a soppy poem that bears no resemblance to anything you’d actually say. But maybe that’s just me. Valentine’s Day polarises people and, I admit it, I fall into the cynical category (while secretly hoping this will be the year my husband surprises me with a huge, overpriced bouquet). But why should romance come at a price? Luckily, it doesn’t have to – read our top tips on wining and dining your loved one on p23, romantic films to snuggle up to (p49) and how the perfect lippie can transform your look (p36). Plus, our cover star Carol McGiffin reveals why she’s happier than ever – despite her brave cancer battle. And for a…

Carol McGiffin has just arrived home from Paris, where she’s spent a romantic weekend with hubby-to-be Mark Cassidy. ‘I guess it’s romantic,’ she concedes when asked. ‘Although I don’t like to think of myself as romantic to be honest, and neither does Mark, so it’s pretty ironic that we have fallen in love with Paris.’ The most romantic city in the world is also the place 36-year-old Mark popped the question seven years ago, going down on one knee at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. ‘We had friends with us this time so I didn’t bore them with a walk down Memory Lane, but we did eat in the same restaurant – La Mascotte in Montmartre – and we stayed in the same area. ‘We’ve been going to Paris…

‘I kept looking at fat pictures’ KIRSTIE ALLEY, 65 Former Fat Actress star Kirstie Alley has fought a 10-year yo-yoing battle with her weight. Images of the actress out and about in a tracksuit in 2006 bear very little resemblance to the super-slim Kirstie who posed recently at the premiere of the latest series of HBO’s Girls. Asked how she managed to shift 50lb and keep it off for over a year, she replied, ‘I thought, “How do I want to see myself on film?”... and I like looking more svelte.’ ‘I drench my face in argan oil’ CATHERINE ZETA-JONES, 46 OK, she was never unattractive, but rewind a decade and the Welsh actress was looking tired, and puffy-faced. Ten years on, the mum-of-two is giving us all a lesson…

AMANDA BELL has been a make-up artist for more than two decades, and for the past 16 years has worked with beauty brand Pixi. Working so closely with the company has built her knowledge of formulations and ingredients to an encyclopaedic level. It’s this knowledge that helps her know exactly what works – and perhaps, more importantly, what doesn’t – on different skin tones and ages, including tricky trends such as pastels; a spring classic. ‘Sometimes the word alone can conjure up the idea of a strong, slightly dated look,’ admits Amanda, so she’s shared her advice on making it work for you. The ageless guide to sorbet shades • Pastels can be a scary prospect to even the most experimental among us, but the right colours, formulas and finishes…

THIS WEEK... When I was a kid, I loved Valentine’s. I got my first Valentine’s card when I was 14, and ran into school to show it off to all my friends, totally thrilled. I found out years later that the card was from my aunt, but it didn’t matter – she’d made my day. By the time I was 15, I had a boyfriend – and he gave me a card and chocolates. Oh, the romance of it all! Valentine’s Day is so exciting when you’re young. Unfortunately, I’m now married to a man who can’t bear it! It’s not that he doesn’t love me, or even that he won’t do something incredibly romantic, albeit about once every 10 years. When I turned 40, for example, he threw a…

Taking place across the world on 9 February, Safer Internet Day promotes the safe, responsible and positive use of smartphones, tablets and computers by children and young people. It can be awkward for parents to have these conversations, but there are simple ways to act and talk about it. Play your part and #shareaheart Everyone will be encouraged to share their heart messages, images and videos on social media using the hashtag #shareaheart for Safer Internet Day. It can be an inspiring message, the reasons you love the net or just a heart emoji. Be as simple or creative as you like! SUPPORTING SAFER INTERNET DAY Internet Matters, a not-for-profit organisation, working with online safety experts to bring parents free resources and advice to help keep their children safe online,…

The first time someone says ‘I love you’ is a milestone moment for any couple, but it meant more to Julie Bushell and Andrew Hewitt than to most. Because for the previous six years, Julie had been unable to speak after suffering a devastating stroke when she was just 40 years old. But despite only being able to communicate through eye and hand signals and shakily scribbled notes, she found love with a patient, caring man who looked past her health and saw the woman inside. ‘After my stroke I was convinced that no man would ever want me,’ Julie, 47, says. ‘I was left a prisoner in my own body, unable to walk, eat or speak for months. I had to learn everything again. ‘I’d spent months in hospital…

1 ROMANCE IN A RUSH IF YOUR MAN LEAVES HIS SHOPPING TO THE LAST MINUTE, he’s got no excuse to be late with your Valentine’s gift now! Boots is offering an engraved edition of classic scent Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, £69.99, while Aldi’s latest Specialbuys from 11 February include these beautiful Sweetheart Roses – a bouquet of 100 for just £25. No need to panic-buy at the garage! 2 IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EYES STUNNING MODEL IMAN ABDULMAJID, 60, was seen out for the first time since her husband David Bowie’s death on 10 January, taking the family dog, Max, for a walk in New York. Like Iman’s late husband, Max’s eyes are different colours. For years, it was thought superstar David suffered from heterochromia (when the irises don’t match),…

‘Sir Terry deserves the title Legend’ ‘Terry kept his dignity to the end – just like Caron’ GLORIA HUNNIFORD When I woke up to the news that Terry had died last week, I don’t mind telling you, I wept. I made myself a cup of tea and just sat for a while, thinking of the first time we worked together, and what a great friend he became. I was asked to sit on the Jimmy Young show back in 1981. It was a big deal for a girl from Northern Ireland, and I had to banter with Terry for 10 minutes at the start. Apparently when the Radio 2 boss heard us, he said, ‘If she can stand up to Terry, she’s hired.’ Months later, I moved to London –…

NEGLIGENCE Fighting back the tears, I watched as my little girl, Ruby, let the colourful balloons float into the air. ‘Happy Birthday, Jack,’ I whispered. My son would have been 11 years old, but instead of celebrating with a cake and presents, we had come to his memorial garden. It’s been five years since we lost Jack, but we are still struggling to come to terms with his death – especially as he would still be alive today if it hadn’t have been for the unforgivable mistakes made by medics. Jack was born with Down’s syndrome, so we were used to hospital visits. He underwent his first operation on his stomach and bowel when he was six days old, and, at four months, he endured heart surgery. It was a…

DARCEY BUSSELL NECKLACE No red carpetworthy outfit is complete without some jewels! Make a style statement like Darcey with an ornate, oversized necklace. DRESS If you are shopping for an occasion dress, consider opting for grey rather than classic black. This softer shade is not only figure-flattering, but it will look stunning teamed with silver metallic accessories. STOLE This faux fur wrap gives Darcey’s simple dress an instant burst of Hollywood glamour. CLUTCH Logo clutch bags add a quirky touch to a formal outfit. Darcey’s bag is by designer Kate Spade, but you can find similar styles all over the high street. DINNER AND DANCE With show-stopping accessories, a maxi dress can easily double up as an evening dress. You can then dress it down with sparkly flats on holiday,…

Think pink Giving complexions a boost to welcome in the new season BALM Accessorize Lychee Sorbet lip balm, £5 A delicate tint for a pretty daytime look. MOISTURE Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Ultra lipstick in Blushing Pink, £21 Skincare ingredients see off any signs of flakiness. MATTE Sleek MakeUP Lip VIP in Backstage, £5.50 A grown-up spring shade for all skin tones, packed with vitamin E to stop that common drying-out effect. GLOSS Revlon Ultra HD lip lacquer in Rose Quartz, £7.99 High in shine and colour for the ultimate 3D pout. In the nude Enhance and polish off your look with a subtle shade MOISTURE Too Faced La Creme Colour Drenched lipstick in Naked Dolly, £18 A peptide-packed formula to fill and smooth chapped lips. GLOSS Rimmel London Oh My…

Find yourself splashing the cash on a treatment or product, only to find it leaves you looking worse for wear? While we’re overwhelmed with more choice than ever before, incorrect, or overuse can cause less than desirable results. It’s not all doom and gloom, though. We’ve gathered advice from the experts on overcoming – and avoiding – those beauty bothers... Hair loss caused by extensions The cause: Ironically, adding volume to your locks can sometimes result in bald patches. ‘Extensions that are too heavy, or badly applied, will cause damage,’ explains hairdresser Ken Picton. ‘Those that are glued on can strip the hair of its protective layers. Synthetic fibres can also damage the follicle, leading to loss,’ he adds. The solution: Prevention is better than cure in this case. Regular…

CASUAL CAPE Blanket styles aren’t going anywhere. If you haven’t bought one yet, shop for neutral colours and keep wearing it through spring… and even into summer. Cape, £20, very.co.uk HOT NEW CLASSIC Keep out the cold and break up the black with a timeless pea coat in a bold colour. It’ll give everything you already own a brilliant makeover in an instant. Coat, £40, BHS PRETTY PRINT The collarless coat is sophisticated, modern and looks great worn over tailoring. If your diary’s packed with special occasions, consider a statement print, which will add a touch of glam to a simple dress. Coat, £65, Yumi LAID-BACK MAC The classic spring must-have gets a makeover for spring ’16. Unlike the tailored trench, the latest version is soft and more relaxed. Team…

‘I’m just doing my job putting different views across’ As if Ruth Langsford doesn’t have enough on her plate at the moment! Husband Eamonn Holmes is recovering from double hip surgery, she’s looking after their 13-year-old son singlehandedly AND she’s working. So the last thing she needs to deal with is a growing number of insults, thrown at her via Twitter. Last week, the 55-year-old mum-ofone made it clear that she was against piercing baby’s ears, unlike fellow Loose Women panellist Katie Price. ‘#Snob #Disgusting’ and ‘You couldn’t have made it more obvious that you haven’t got a lot of time for @Miss KatiePrice’ were just some of the insults hurled at the TV presenter. Ruth, who often takes the time to reply to her tweets – replied lightly, ‘Just…

THIS WEEK... WANTING TO WALK THE WALK SLICE OF LIFE Ruth: Apparently, the way the bionic man you like your toast says a lot about your personality. Burnt means you’re patient and enjoy being different. Medium brown says you’re a perfectionist – organised and efficient. Lightly toasted means you’re likely to be impatient and live by the motto, ‘Done is better than perfect.’ I’d say I’m a medium brown sort of girl, but I’ve never had a toaster that cooks a slice the same colour twice! HANDS OFF! EAMONN: According to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the number of recorded cases of domestic violence has risen by almost a third in the past 18 months. Why do so many people – men, women and children – believe it is acceptable…

We love her sense of humour and her huge dollops of common sense, so we asked TV presenter Anthea Turner to provide us unmarried, unattached or about-to-be-divorced ladies with some words of wisdom on how to dust ourselves down and start all over again… 1 LOVE HURTS Cupid’s arrow is a bl**dy lethal thing, and we’ve all been stung – me included. The reality is that one in two of us will see our great love affairs end in divorce. Learn to accept the fact that love doesn’t always run smoothly. 2 WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES We all meet ‘wrong ones’ along the way, but if you want to avoid falling into the same old negative patterns, get some counselling and learn about your own patterns of behaviour.…

Roast squash, spinach & sage risotto SERVES 5 l Prep: 15 mins Cook: 25 mins • 1 small–medium butternut squash (about 1kg) • 2tbsp sunflower oil • ½tsp dried chilli flakes • 1 medium onion, finely chopped • 2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced • 200g Arborio (risotto) rice • 100ml Marsala or Madeira wine, or extra stock • 750ml hot vegetable or chicken stock (made with 1 stock cube) • 50g Parmesan or Grano Padano cheese, finely grated • 150g young spinach leaves • 15g fresh sage leaves • Flaked sea salt • Ground black pepper Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Cut the squash in half lengthways and scoop out the seeds. Cut the halves into roughly 1.5cm slices and put them in a large bowl. Add…

THIS WEEK... CREDIT CARD TRICKS If you have an American Express credit card, you MUST download the FourSquare app for your smartphone. You can earn money just by ‘checking-in’ on the app at stores, and also get great deals, like earning 50 per cent back from purchases at shops like Gap and Debenhams, or getting £10 back when you spend £30 at Primark. Another trick is ‘stoozing’. Just replace ALL of your spending with a 0% purchase credit card, paying only the minimum balance each month, and leave your cash in an account, earning interest. The idea is to profit from the banks by playing the system! CHEAP DATE NIGHTS! If you love the cinema, but find it too pricey, then Meerkat Movies could be for you. It’s a new…

You were a presenter of BBC’s Countryfile for a decade – do you miss it? Of course I do. It became a big part of my life. Matt [Baker] and I are good friends and still see each other, but the time had come for me to focus on my private life and I wanted to have another baby. But I couldn’t tell anyone that I was going through IVF at the time. I just had to do something for me – and now I have two wonderful little girls [Xanthe and Zena] to show for it. You went through five cycles of IVF – how difficult was that? It was hard. I already had my son [Zephyr, now four] and I had this overwhelming emotional desire that he needed…

Carla is out of hospital now, but how does she react when she arrives at the wedding fair to get ideas for her big day, only to find Tracy there? At first, she’s irritated. The last thing she wants is the man she slept with and his fiancée around when she’s trying to plan her wedding. Does she have any idea at all that Tracy knows about her and Robert’s fling? Not until Tracy shoves her into a room and shuts the door behind them! How much pain is Carla in? A lot. She’s only just out of hospital, and is lucky to be alive after being run over. Then Tracy drops the bombshell that she knows about our one-night stand, and she’s left reeling. How does Carla react? She…

Being able to lose weight without going hungry might sound too good to be true, yet that’s exactly what Slimming World’s Food Optimising plan enables thousands of members to do every week. By satisfying their appetite on ‘Free Foods’, like fruit and veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat, fish and more, it’s possible to slim down without ever suffering the hunger pangs that so often lead people to give up on other weight-loss plans. This eating plan from Slimming World is packed full of ‘Free Foods’ and will show you how you can lose weight while eating delicious, satisfying dishes – you could lose up to 7lb in two weeks*. How it works 1 Follow the menus on these pages. You can start on any day you choose, swapping days…