Table of contents for 45 - 2016 in Best

Best friends Nadia Sawalha, 51, and Kaye Adams, 53, have recently found a new pastime away from their Loose Women day jobs. In the past few weeks, the pair have become YouTube sensations, having recorded a series of short videos giving fans a candid insight into their long-standing friendship and personal lives. Best caught up with two of our favourite Loosies to hear about their exciting new venture, and how they both feel about all things Christmassy… We love your YouTube videos. How did they start? N: For fun! We don’t really know what we’re doing; we just love making them. The trailers go on Facebook, then the full videos are on YouTube. We haven’t had one negative comment about them since we started. Oh, and we’d be so good…

Last week, I read a report saying the male contraceptive injection would be just as effective as the female contraceptive pill – but that the trials have been stopped thanks to ‘unpleasant’ side effects. In fact, the effects were so unpleasant, 20 per cent of those on the trial, which lowered sperm count, asked to drop out early. So what were these unacceptable symptoms? Depression, weight gain, skin issues, headaches… Sound familiar? That may well be because these are exactly the same side effects women have suffered from for years, thanks to changing hormones! From the Pill to pregnancy, motherhood and HRT – our hormones are everchanging in an effort to produce – or stop producing – your families, and it’s about time you took your turn! Honestly, it’s a…

Ageing may be an inevitable part of life, but the good news is that there is more research being done than ever before into how to slow down the obvious signs of getting older. Here, experts reveal the seven easy things you can do today to sharpen your brain, give your figure an instant ‘face lift’ and maintain younger-looking skin. SLEEP DEEP Skimping on shuteye is linked to a shorter lifespan, says Dr Guy Meadows, sleep specialist for Benson’s for Beds. ‘Consistently getting less than six hours is proven to increase your risk of diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart failure and high blood pressure.’ Can’t sleep? Eat yoghurt, bananas and oats, all rich in tryptophan, which produces the sleep-inducing brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin. BE A BALLOON Years of hunching over a…

We’re delighted to team up with one of our – and your – favourite fashion brands to bring best readers an extra-special treat. With your Christmas do in the diary, it’s time to find a seriously special outfit. And you’re in luck, because M&Co has this year’s party season covered. Its showstopping new collection is overflowing with swoon-worthy dresses, glam jumpsuits and stunning separates all in a beautiful palette of decadent jewel tones, beautiful black and molten metallics. Go for Gatsby glamour in a sequin flapper dress, or feel fabulous in a ladylike LBD. For a stylish and contemporary look, we love the cold-shoulder jumpsuit with legs-11 heels, or the must-have metallic pleated skirt with a rollneck. Just team with a blingy clutch and some pretty party heels and get…

For a long time, the highlight of my festive season was the Christmas jumper night out I had with my friends. We’d done it for years, and I’d always loved dressing up in the garish garment for a few drinks and laughs. However, in December 2014, I just wasn’t feeling it. Because, at size 26, a thick, heavy Santa sweater was the last thing I wanted to wear. I felt hot and uncomfortable, and I knew I looked as flustered as I felt. Not wanting to let anyone down, though, I went with my best friend, Ellen, to the pub to meet the others. But as we walked in, a man looked straight at me and laughed. ‘Ey, up,’ he jeered, jostling his friends. ‘Fat cow coming through.’ I was…

When I proposed to my partner, Nathan Phillips, in a restaurant, his jaw nearly hit the floor. I know that it’s not traditional for the woman to pop the question, but then ours had never been a conventional relationship. Nathan, 37, and I both have dwarfism – he’s 3ft 11in, while I’m slightly taller at 4ft 2in. We met while we were playing two of the seven dwarves in a panto of Snow White in Bath, in December 2012. He was Grumpy and I was Soppy – although that’s not an accurate description of our real personalities! The first time I met Nathan in rehearsals I got butterflies. He was really handsome and I was instantly attracted to him. But I was too shy to speak to him, certain that…

Meat feast Aldi Five Bird Roast A delicious best buy of turkey, duck, goose, pheasant and chicken. Iceland Hand Stuffed Chicken Cushion If you prefer chicken to turkey, this deboned cushion is a great choice. Basted with butter and stuffed with sage and onion, this crowd-pleaser tastes as good as it looks. Your freeze-ahead Christmas Iceland Luxury British Brined Turkey With Orange & Thyme Butter A spruced-up turkey that's perfect for the big day and, crucially, will come out looking gorgeously golden-brown. The orange flavour is nicely subtle. M&S Three Bird Roast OK, it's a luxe buy, but it’s full of flavour and really has the wow factor. The meat stays moist, and the duck is particularly delicious. Lidl Braemoor Small British Self-Basting Turkey With Giblets A petite bird to…

When I found out I was pregnant in May last year, I felt a rush of happiness – then the fear set in. I’d been with my partner, Neil Beveridge, 36, for five years by then but, early in our relationship, I’d fallen pregnant and miscarried at 10 weeks. We were both devastated. And, while Neil was brilliant with my kids, Rachele, now 14, and Declyn, 12, from a previous relationship, it made us realise we desperately wanted a baby together, too. So we tried – for years. And, just when I thought I’d never fall pregnant again, it happened! But, during the first 12 weeks, I was continually terrified that I’d suffer another heartbreaking miscarriage. I only started to relax after our first scan, when the sonographer reassured us…

Luxury for less Thanks to Aldi, you don’t have to spend a fortune on mince pies this year. Its Specially Selected Exquisite Mince Pies, £2.99 for six, taste heavenly served with a dollop of brandy butter as an indulgent pudding. Winter winners Count down to Christmas with a moreish tub of Cadbury Silent Bites, £2. These delicious mini chocolate cakes are infused with raspberry flavouring – great with a cuppa while watching your fave festive movie. Bah humbug? We think not! GADGET WORTH GETTING Light as air Fancy fried food without the calories? The Philips AirFryer, £119.99, is a gadget made in foodie heaven. It lets you fry, bake, roast and grill all your favourites, including chips, with little or no oil, and we can report that they taste just…

LINDA IN CINDERS Cinderella, Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe Linda Robson will be turning a pumpkin into a carriage as The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. Louie Spence will be high-kicking his way onto the stage as the Prince’s loyal man-servant, Dandini, and comedian Bobby Davro plays audience favourite Buttons. From 10-31 Dec. CAPTAIN HOFF Peter Pan, New Theatre, Cardiff David Hasselhoff is swapping the beach for Neverland as he plays Captain Hoff The Hook in Peter Pan . At least the former Baywatch star should be all right if he has to walk the plank! From 10 Dec–6 Jan 2017. A WHOLE NEW WORLD Aladdin, The Grand, Wolverhampton Lisa Riley will be showcasing her slimmer figure as the Slave of The Ring, Joe McElderry is Aladdin and CBeebies’ Ben Faulks (centre),…

She’s glamorous, successful and has a gorgeous husband and family, but even Victoria Beckham, 42, has to take time out to relax once in a while. Last week, David, 41, Brooklyn, 17, Romeo, 14, and Harper, five, jetted back from an LA half-term break to their £30 million London home. It’s rumoured the designer stayed behind with her youngest son, Cruz, 11, to record music with producer Rodney Jerkins, a pal of Victoria’s from her Spice Girls heyday. Posh and her hubby are often in separate countries for work – he was recently in Tokyo to launch his H&M range, while Victoria has just come back from a charity trip to Kenya – but speculation is hotting up that David’s proposed football team, Miami MLS, might finally launch next year.…

When I first met Rob, I can honestly say I’d never met anyone like him. As well as being a strapping soldier, he was kind, thoughtful and not afraid to show his emotions. I found his sensitivity refreshing and deeply attractive. Rob, now 33, was already a captain in the Royal Marines when we got chatting in a pub in December 2010. At the time, I was visiting the UK from Germany, where I’d been living with my sons, Connor, now 17, and Charlie, 15, after my marriage broke down. We swapped numbers, keeping in touch over the phone. Our long-distance relationship suited me because I wanted to take things slowly, yet I couldn’t deny I was falling in love. In July 2011, I moved back to Skipton, North Yorkshire,…

What will help my rosacea? Q I suffer from the skin condition rosacea, but the cream I was prescribed hasn’t helped. Are there other options I can try? A Rosacea is hard to treat and can be very distressing. It’s a skin condition which causes flushing, spots and broken blood vessels on the face. Firstly, find your triggers – these include sunlight, caffeine and alcohol. Once you work out what yours are, you can avoid them. There are at least three types of cream which can be prescribed, so ask for another type. If flushing is a specific issue, you may need brimonidine, so ask for a topical treatment. Would an X-ray help me? Q My back has been painful for the last few months. Do I need an X-ray?…

We’ve all been victims of partywear panic, but this Christmas M&Co are ready to solve every dressing up dilemma. Take tips from the ’20s with a fabulous flapper dress, complete with fringing, or look glitzy and glam in intricate embellishment. With a range of catwalk-inspired pieces, classic shapes and contemporary fabrics, there’s no doubt you’ll find something to shine in this festive season! 20% OFF IN STORE AND ONLINE See page 30 for details on how to claim your discount. Valid from 8-14 Nov 2016 FREE EXPRESS DELIVERY! on orders over £50…

best LUXE BUY best VALUE TOP TIP Can’t find a shimmer to suit? Create your own by mixing glitter and clear polish.…

best BODY HOW IT WORKS 1 Scared you’ll look as stuffed as the turkey come Christmas party season? You’re not alone. Did you know that more than half of us go on a diet in the lead-up to the festivities? 2 Fitting in the perfect party dress is one of the biggest motivations for pre-Christmas diets. But forget your LBD (little black dress). We’ve come up with a diet to help you fit in to your LRD (little red dress), so you can wear a real showstopper this year (It is Christmas, after all!) 3 With our menu, you could lose up to a stone over the next four weeks and you won’t have to almost starve yourself to get there. Instead, we’ve put together a 7-day plan that includes…

Back in the 90s, ‘Claire from Steps’ was best-known for bouncing about the stage in skimpy tank tops with bandmates Ian ‘H’ Watkins, Lisa Scott-Lee, Lee Latchford-Evans and Faye Tozer. These days, the mum-of-two is more likely to be found rustling up beautiful cakes, Christmas decorations and organising themed parties! And having reinvented herself as ‘the craft queen’, the 39-year-old will be showing us exactly how she does it in her new column for best, every week until the New Year, kicking off in this issue with a fun Christmas wreath… Claire, lovely to see you! So, when did this passion for crafts begin? I did textiles at A level, which wasn’t purely about making clothes, so I think I caught the creative bug a bit then. But my passion…

Tony Cowell BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER SNEAKS BACKSTAGE WHAT’S IN SIMON’S DRESSING ROOM? Simon has a dressing room to die for. The grey and black-themed suite has slatecoloured leather tiles, large mirrors and a widescreen TV, plus a £5,000 leather sofa. Ashtrays, champagne in crystal ice buckets, Jo Malone candles and white orchids adorn the room, while pictures of his hero, Frank Sinatra, deck the walls. Simon’s stylish sanctuary is where he chills out before the live shows. He starts with a head and face massage, then retires to his marble bathroom to soak out the stress. With a wall-mounted TV he can unwind and watch his favourite cartoons ahead of his nightly production meeting with show producers. Simon remains the epitome of calm before a live show despite the endless…

As the eagerlyawaited Netflix series The Crown gets under way, it’s a present-day royal who’s keeping us all intrigued. If Prince William is the sensible, old-fashioned brother, Prince Harry supplies the unpredictability and fun. And, though Harry’s always preferred blondes (girlfriends and rumoured flings include actress Cressida Bonas, pop star Ellie Goulding and jewellery designer Chelsy Davy), his reported new lady seems to go against type. Yes, the woman said to have captured the 32-year-old’s heart is a stunning brunette – Meghan Markle, 35, who plays sexy paralegal Rachel Zane in US legal drama Suits. ‘My cup runneth over and I’m the luckiest girl in the world,’ said Meghan after the story went global Harry was first charmed by divorcée Meghan nearly six months ago, at the annual Invictus Games…

Some people dread the prospect of Christmas, particularly if they’ll be spending it alone. Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid could well be in that camp. She won’t be physically alone because, as well as sons Sam, 14, Finn, 12, and Jack, 11, the bubbly, pretty TV star will surely have plenty of friends and family to spend it with. Emotionally, though, she might wish there was someone special by her side – particularly as her ex, Dominic Cotton, moved on with new love Adela Straughan, 45, two years ago. Last December, Susanna shared a newspaper article offering advice for those who suffer from depression at Christmas, posting the link for people who ‘find this time of year hard’. Is this how Susanna feels, too? Since her painful 2014 split…

ON THE JOURNEY I disagree that people like Danny Mac, Ore Oduba and Laura Whitmore – who have been consistently good week in, week out – are not as fun to watch as those who have been on a journey, like Ed Balls and Lesley Joseph. Watching Ore, Laura and Danny is like poetry in motion! TONE IT DOWN, RINDER! So, Judge Rinder’s worried he doesn’t have the ‘smouldering sexuality’ for a rumba. I think he’s wrong. But my one bit of advice for him is to tone it down – from the facial expressions to the dance moves – otherwise a rumba can be stilted. ‘I like watching Ed’s dancing journey, but consistency is key in the competition!’ Bublé’s a funny man I laughed out loud when I read…

Nowadays, people are rarely seen without a mobile phone in their hands, even when they’re driving – but this seemingly simple act is proving fatal. It’s not people taking calls on their phones while driving that are causing most deaths; it’s people texting or looking down at their phones. Statistics show that distractions like these cause almost 60 per cent of road accidents. Take lorry driver Tomasz Kroker (top right), who was scrolling through music on his phone when he hit Tracy Houghton’s stationary car, killing her, 45 (right), sons Ethan, 13, Joshua, 11, and stepdaughter Aimee Goldsmith, 11. Last week, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. But he’s not the only one to be distracted at the wheel; between 2012 and 2014, 67 people were killed in…

BEST LIFESTYLE EDITOR LARA NUGENT Go undercover The right underwear can make or break an outfit, and a few key pieces can really transform your festive wardrobe… l A T-shirt bra is not just great for fitted tops; it also helps to create a smooth look when worn under a fitted LBD. The soft design means it’s incredibly comfortable – ideal for a big girlie night out. l Love strappy styles but hate the tops of your arms? The new lace armwear garment from M&S is a perfect compromise, cleverly covering your upper arms when teamed with a spaghetti-strap dress this party season. l If your aim is to smooth out lumps and bumps and avoid the dreaded VPL, a half-slip is the way forward. Choose one with medium control…

TOP TIP Lightly dab a piece of masking tape on your cheeks to remove pesky powder that falls from your lids. best DESIGNER LUXE!…

It’s not easy to stay on track over the festive season but here are our top slimming survival tips… 1. EAT UP Have a healthy meal before a party. Try a filling soup or salad. That way you’ll eat less at the buffet table. 2. STICK TO A SNACK LIMIT It pays to keep to a personal allowance of 2 treats - whatever is being passed around -whether it’s 2 chocolates from the Roses tin or 2 canapés. 3. CHEERS! Don’t worry, booze isn’t off limits, but stick to a couple of spirits with diet mixers if possible. Your waistline will thank you. 4. PORTION POWER Choose a smaller plate for your Christmas dinner. It gives the illusion you’re eating more than you actually are. 5. OOPS! If you over-indulge…

MAKE IT MINIATURE Perfect to pick at and get the party started Stress-free savouries Co-op Bacon-Wrapped Cheese The only thing that could possibly improve cheese is wrapping it in bacon. These are so tasty, you'll want to eat them all. Aldi Ham Hock Bites They might look like chicken nuggets, but they deliver a major dose of ham-and-maple deliciousness. Iceland Mulled Wine Sausage Rolls Mini sausage rolls flavoured with cranberry and mulled spices might sound like an odd combination, but these are a welcome break from the norm – and they're just as good hot as they are cold. Morrisons The Best Mini Piri Piri Tortilla Cups Crunchy with a sizzle, these salsa mini-cups are great for kicking off your fiesta, and they're all too easy to polish off in…

The festive period is always an expensive one, but there are ways to make seasonal savings… Go online If you’re organised, visit sites such as secretsales.com, brandalley.co.uk, achica.co.uk and zulily.co.uk. They usually have some fantastic bargains – especially on homeware, gadgets and fashion. Just make sure you check the delivery dates, as it can take a few weeks to get to you. You need to register your details to join and receive daily emails, but the money you save will make any hassle worth it. Black Friday It originated in America, so it’s great news for shoppers that Black Friday has reached the UK. The huge sales mean you can save a fortune… Although it officially takes place on Friday 25 November this year, bargains are often to be had…

Twiggy (Lesley Lawson), 67, has been gracing front pages since rising to fame at just 16 years old. She was an icon of the Swinging Sixties and, during her time, has worked as a presenter, actress, singer and, more recently, as a fashion designer for M&S – so it would seem she is still influencing how we dress. These days, she enjoys the quiet life in Suffolk with her husband of 28 years Leigh Lawson, 71. Twiggy, you’re celebrating 50 years in the business! Who’s inspired you? My total icon is Greta Garbo. I became obsessed with her in the 60s and 70s. I loved her style, her attitude. We didn’t know much about these stars – you saw them on the silver screen, that was it. We’ve lost that…

WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £10 0 OR 3 X £50 PR I ZES STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 8 In unison (8) 9 Make possible (6) 10 Cold season (6) 11 Stimulating (8) 12 Of greater age (5) 13 Had a shot (5) 14 Farm wildfowl (5) 16 Body tissue (5) 18 Tree fruits (5) 20 Contested at speed (5) 25 Par, normal (8) 26 Every 12 months (6) 27 Unassuming, coy (6) 28 Meant (8) DOWN 1 Neighbourly gettogether (6) 2 Birds’ coverings (8) 3 Brief (5) 4 Removed moisture from (5) 5 Bring here (5) 6 Commission agent, middleman (6) 7 Bed covers (8) 15 A time to vote (8) 17 Gaining knowledge (8) 19 Leased, or tenanted (6) 21 Rubs out (6) 22 Unpleasant, foul (5) 23…

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