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How three Aussie couples are getting it right in romance

Relationship expert, Jacqui Manning, weighs in on Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski, Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster Blake and Sylvia Jeffreys and Peter Stefanovic.
Sam Wood Snezana Markoski Hamish Blake Zoe Foster Blake Sylvia Jeffreys Peter Stefanovic

In celebration of romance awareness month, Woman’s Day chatted with psychologist and eHarmony Relationship Expert, Jacqui Manning, to find out how three of Australia’s happiest couples are getting it right in the romance department.

While Jacqui admits that the nation’s perceptions of these couples are mostly drawn from social media and the presence the couples choose to share with their audience, she sees a tangible amount of love between each partnership, in their own in varying ways.

Hamish Blake and Zoe Foster Blake

Anyone who follows this beloved couple on Instagram will immediately understand why a smile is constantly plastered on their faces.

The TV comedian married the author in 2012 after dating for 18-months, and as we must all surely know by now; they share the most adorable little bub, Sonny.

According to new research by eHarmony, 35% of Australians believe kids take a toll on their relationship’s romance, so how do Hamish and Zoe keep it alive after welcoming their first son?

“I see a lot of affection between Hamish and Zoe, and perhaps that’s just because they’re both really funny people!”

“Something that jumps out at me when it comes to Hamish and Zoe – particularly when looking at their Instagram accounts, is a lot of affection and kindness with the way that they talk about each other.”

“They seem to compliment each other frequently in their own witty ways, and under the banter it’s easy to see the adoration they have for one another.”

“On top of that, they share a lot of common interests in both work and in life. They love to travel and share a sense of adventure with their little boy.”

See Hamish and Zoe’s playful dynamic in the video player below! Post continues…

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Sam Wood and Snezana Markoski

The loved-up couple met filming the third season of The Bachelor Australia.

Coincidentally, Snezana was the first hopeful to enter the Bachelor mansion, and therefore meet the man himself.

Does this mean it was love at first sight? 47% of Australian’s do believe in the idea.

It may have been love at first sight, but the undeniably strong attraction between the couple still remains.

Since their unconventional beginning, the couple have been taking it back to a level of normalcy.

They became engaged, moved into a lavish Melbourne home and have more recently revealed their desire to grow their brood.

“They seem to have a lot of fun together and they just fit each other’s lifestyles quite seamlessly,” says Jacqui, adding, “He also seems really happy to be around her daughter, Eve.”

“They do it right as couple by sharing family values and a strong sense of commitment to each other – shown by the fact that they moved states to be with one another along with their intentions to add to their little family.”

Watch the couple get pretend marries in the video player below! Post continues…

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Sylvia Jeffreys and Peter Stefanovic

The 34-year-old reporter and brother of fellow Today presenter, Karl Stefanovic, started dating in 2014. Last month, they announced their engagement.

The presenters’ chemistry was palpable as they worked together over the 2013 Christmas break, but their on-air flirtation turned into something more when Peter hand-wrote a love letter to his future-wife before returning overseas as a foreign correspondent.

Speaking of how they make it work as two professionals in the same industry and workplace, Jacqui says, “Sylvia and Peter seem to be a great team – both work in the pressure cooker world of TV.”

“Peter seems like he enjoys being the ‘cheeky’ one, however I think Sylvia can definitely hold her own!”

“They would understand the demands of unusual hours, long days and life in the public eye.”

“The main thing that strikes me is they seem to share a great sense of humour, seemingly laughing with each other, not at each other.”

“It feels like there’s a great deal of warmth there that’s important, the way they look at each other and are proud of each other – both personally and professionally – is a great quality to nurture.”

Watch Sylvia gush about her romantic proposal in the video player below!

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Renee Zellweger pens powerful essay slamming ‘humiliating’ plastic surgery speculation

Renee Zellweger has once again denied having any plastic surgery in a powerful Jennifer Aniston-style essay she penned for the Huffington Post.

Remember how everyone was convinced that Renée Zellweger had gotten plastic surgery after she showed up to ELLE’s Women in Hollywood event looking different than usual? Photos from the event quickly flung across the internet accompanied by headlines suggesting she had work done on her eyes, and more. In response to the digital cacophony, Zellweger denied all plastic surgery accusations.

Fast forward to today, and certain critics still feel victimized by Zellweger’s appearance. Case in point: Here’s a highlight from Variety critic Owen Gleiberman’s recent essay entitled, “Renée Zellweger: If She No Longer Looks Like Herself Has She Become a Different Actress?”

Renee Zellweger at ELLE’s Women in Hollywood event.

“Watching the trailer, I didn’t stare at the actress and think: She doesn’t look like Renée Zellweger. I thought: She doesn’t look like Bridget Jones! Celebrities, like anyone else, have the right to look however they want, but the characters they play become part of us. I suddenly felt like something had been taken away.”

So just today, Zellweger penned a powerful essay in The Huffington Post, called We Can Do Better, stating once again that she “did not make a decision to alter my face and have surgery on my eyes.” Moreover, she’s appalled (and rightfully so) by the level of media attention her appearance has garnered, and what it says about how we still treat women as the sum of their looks.

I am not writing today because I have been publicly bullied or because the value of my work has been questioned by a critic whose ideal physical representation of a fictional character originated 16 years ago, over which he feels ownership, I no longer meet. I am not writing in protest to the repellent suggestion that the value of a person and her professional contributions are somehow diminished if she presumably caves to societal pressures about appearance, and must qualify her personal choices in a public court of opinion. I’m not writing because I believe it’s an individual’s right to make decisions about his or her body for whatever reason without judgment.

I’m writing because to be fair to myself, I must make some claim on the truths of my life, and because witnessing the transmutation of tabloid fodder from speculation to truth is deeply troubling. The ‘eye surgery’ tabloid story itself did not matter, but it became the catalyst for my inclusion in subsequent legitimate news stories about self-acceptance and women succumbing to social pressure to look and age a certain way. In my opinion, that tabloid speculations become the subject of mainstream news reporting does matter.

She goes on to say that while society has become more egalitarian in some ways, “the double standard used to diminish our contributions remains, and is perpetuated by, the negative conversation which enters our consciousness every day as snark entertainment.”

She maintains that, contrary to popular belief, these tabloid puff pieces are not harmless.

It increasingly takes air time away from the countless significant unprecedented current events affecting our world. It saturates our culture, perpetuates unkind and unwise double standards, lowers the level of social and political discourse, standardizes cruelty as a cultural norm, and inundates people with information that does not matter.

Finally, she concludes by asking everyone to shift the focus of their conversations to the things that really matter. “Maybe we could talk more about our many true societal challenges and how we can do better.”

Zellweger, we hear you.

Story via: Cosmopolitan

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Breastfeeding mum uses her own milk to squirt critic

Just because I asked you to go somewhere private, telling me to f-off and squirting me with your boobs was incredibly uncalled for.

Breastfeeding shaming is all the rage. Despite the law being on their side, mums who choose to nurse in public are often met with disapproving looks or worse, verbal criticism.

Mums have frequently been told to cover us, called names ranging from “tramp” to “paedophile” and been sent to feed in the toilets.

Even celebrities have been shamed for breastfeeding. Mila Kunis recently told Vanity Fair that she often finds herself on the receiving end of judgmental looks.

But one breastfeeding mum in the UK has found a unique way to hit back at critics.

According to an anonymous post on the Dartford Gossip Facebook page, a disgruntled woman who asked a breastfeeding mother to go and feed her baby somewhere private was squirted with breastmilk.

“To the lady Dartford park who thought it was appropriate to breastfeed her baby whilst my child and very easily distracted husband sat near by,” she wrote.

“I don’t think it was necessary for you to react the way you did just because I asked you to go somewhere private, telling me to f-off and squirting me with your boobs was incredibly uncalled for.

“I hope you are ashamed of yourself!”

But while the anonymous critic was outraged, comments on the thread were largely in support of the breastfeeding mum.

“You should be ashamed of yourself! It’s hard enough to breast feed a baby let alone be judged for it in public!,” said one commenter.

“If [your] husband is easily distracted id say that’s [your] problem not the lady trying to feed her baby, maybe she shouldn’t of done what she did but why should she have to go somewhere private to feed her child?” asks another.

It might not be the best use of ‘liquid gold’, but it certainly brings a new dimension to the ridiculous debate.

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‘She’s a monster and not strong enough to lead’: Donald Trump ups his personal attacks on Hillary Clinton

Donald Trump has intensified his personal attacks on Hillary Clinton, labelling her a "monster", “unbalanced” and "unstable".

Donald Trump has intensified his personal attacks on Hillary Clinton, labelling her a “monster”, “unbalanced” and “unstable” at a series of campaign events on Friday.

Out to magnify the controversies that have affected the Democratic nominee’s campaign Trump – who is not in any way a psychologist – chose to target Clinton’s mindset and suggest she had many mental issues.

“Unstable Hillary Clinton, lacks the judgment, temperament and moral character to lead this country — and I believe that so strongly,” Trump said at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa, according to CNN.

“She’s really pretty close to unhinged, and you’ve seen, you’ve seen it a couple times. The people in the background know it, the people who know her know it, and she’s like an unbalanced person.”

The Republican presidential nominee also tagged his rival with taunts about her being “dangerous” and “pathological” before warning voters that Hillary would lead to “the destruction of this country from within.”

“In one way she’s a monster,” Trump said in Green Bay, Wisconsin, reports CNN. “In another way she’s a weak person. She’s actually not strong enough to be president.”

Trump seems to have stepped up his personal attacks of the democratic leader after a drop in the polls and more well-known republicans have stepped out to question his ability to lead.

According to CNN “a longtime Jeb Bush adviser, Sally Bradshaw, last week said she had become an independent, adding if the presidential race in Florida is close, she’ll vote for Hillary Clinton.”

RELATED VIDEO: Eagle attacks Donald Trump when shooting for Time Magazine

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The home loan changes affecting families

Breathe easy. It’s good news.
Family home garden

Up until now, home loans haven’t exactly favoured families.

It’s strange, given that a growing family usually means you’re about to outgrow your current living arrangements. (But when has common sense ever dictated anything?)

Now, legally, lenders have never been able to obviously discriminate against expectant, new or growing families. But – and it’s a big but – borrowing potential is assessed on guaranteed income and whether you’ll be able to stick to your repayments without significant hardship.

Given that, in most cases, people rely on two incomes (you and your partner) when applying for a home loan, lenders are inclined to believe that a change in financial circumstances – such as parental leave (of which the paid part is usually only for 18 weeks) and reduced income if you head back to work part-time – will lead to significant hardship.

So what’s the solution?

In the past, it has meant some women have “hidden” a pregnancy when applying for a home loan. It may sound far-fetched and even a little crazy, but do a quick survey of friends, colleagues and extended family – chances are you’ll find someone who’s had to resort to it.

Luckily, that’s all set to change.

In June, the Westpac Group (which includes St. George, BankSA, Bank of Melbourne and RAMS, too) made a landmark decision that will have a hugely positive impact on families and future families.

The bank now recognises paid parental leave and return to work income in regards to your borrowing potential.

Ultimately, it’s evened the playing field, allowing both new and existing customers who are preparing to grow their families to do so smoothly and with increased flexibility when, let’s face it, you need it most.

It may sound simple and straightforward, but it’s still ground-breaking territory. So what prompted it?

The people it, appears.

Recent home lending research from Westpac shows that 88% of Aussies believe banks should “look beyond” parental leave and other short-term situations when weighing up an individual’s borrowing potential. On top of that, eight out of 10 people feel that a person’s future income should be taken into account if they’re on parental leave. Seems fair, right?

Westpac agree, so they set the wheels in motion to make both situations a reality.

Of course, it’s a smart move for a bank that prides itself on being the country’s first major bank to have a female customer, teller and CEO.

Ainslie van Onselen, Westpac’s Director of Women’s Markets says, “We have a long and proud history of supporting women and families to achieve their financial goals.”

And with one less stress to worry about, those financial goals – and that happy, family home – suddenly seem a whole lot more achievable.

Brought to you by Westpac and Ruby Connection

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Susan Sarandon calls out Real Housewives of Melbourne’s Pettifleur Berenger over catfights

Susan Sarandon is not impressed

Susan Sarandon has criticised Pettifleur Berenger and her Real Housewives of Melbourne co-stars over their ugly catfights, and says that women need to support each other more.

The 69-year-old actress was hosting a lunch event at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium as part of the La Dolce Vita Italian festival when she made the comments.

“That’s why I hate those reality shows, the wives of wherever, because they thrive on provoking fights,” she said.

When someone pointed out that Berenger was in the room, an unpassed Sarandon emphasised her point by asking: “Why can’t you be like the Gandhi of reality shows?”

The reality TV star defended herself and the show by explaining that that the drama was all for the ratings. Sarandon responded: “I find that very concerning because it isn’t as dramatic to get along.”

Berenger later posted a picture of herself with Sarandon on Instragra, showing that there were no hardfeelings.

“Lovely to meet the incredible @susansarandon at the @ladolceitaliaau luncheon @crownresorts,” she captioned.

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Hookers and booze: Hugh Grant’s revealing new interview

A notoriously private Hugh Grant opens up about his wild life in the spotlight.

From Divine Brown, to dancing in his jocks and needing a whole lotta vodka, Hugh Grant holds nothing back in a revealing new interview CBS News.

The 55-year-old was as charming as ever as he sat down with the American news outlet to discuss some of the biggest moments in his life.

And while he may be one of Hollywood’s most beloved leading actors, Hugh is under the impression that he is difficult to work with.

“I’ve driven people mad on films that I’ve made. I want more takes, I want to try new lines. Then I want to interfere in the editing process and I want to interfere in the advertising process, everything, everything,” he said.

“Pretty much Barbra Streisand in trousers, I am!”

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But that doesn’t mean the entire world isn’t captivated by the star.

One of his most iconic film moments has to be the that dance in the Richard Curtis’ rom-com Love Actually.

Sadly, Hugh admits he felt very little love for his grooving.

Every gal wanted to be Andie MacDowell in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

“I dreaded the dance scene in Love Actually more than having my teeth extracted,” he revealed.

“And you know, the thing is, you gotta be in the mood for dancing. You know, it takes me quite a lot of vodka before I really want to, or if I’m alone at home with no one around, I like a bit of a dance sometimes in my pants.”

You know who else chooses vodka… If only Daniel Cleaver returned to Bridget Jones!

The British star swooned his way into hearts everywhere following his role in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

But according to Hugh the 1994 flick, which scored him a Golden Globe, was never meant to be a hit.

“When the film was rough cut together, the producers and everyone sat together and watched the film and agreed it was the worst thing ever perpetrated in the history of cinema. There was no laughs. It was just awful. And I felt the same. And we all wanted to emigrate before the film came out,” he mused.

We all know how that turned out!

With great fame comes great drama, and boy, did the Oxford graduate deliver.

In the height of his ’90s glory he was dating “it girl” Liz Hurley… until as Hugh described it, his “hiccup” of a summer.

The 1995 bump in the road was, of course, when he was arrested for lewd behaviour in a public place with prostitute Divine Brown.

Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley.

Divine Brown and Hugh Grant’s mugshots.

Reflecting on his arrest, Hugh said: “I was very naughty. I was very drunk. And yeah, it was regrettable.”

“It was entirely to be expected, that there would be a huge hullabaloo about that, particularly given this rather absurd persona that I had been given about who I was on the back of Four Weddings.”

“People thought I was this nice character I played in that film. And so I suppose the contrast between that person and this seedy behavior was juicy stuff. And I quite understand why it was a big story.”

True to life Grant was well-known for playing bachelor roles, like this one in About A Boy.

Hugh also recently chatted to The Late Late Show’s James Corden. Corden got an unexpectedly vulnerable answer from Grant when he recalled meeting the Notting Hill star and Hugh told him his whole life story during the encounter.

Of the memory a lighthearted Hugh quipped: “I do that now, I can’t tell you why. I have to stop. I spent half my life campaigning for privacy and the other half revealing everything about myself.”

Corden then asked Hugh if he’d been to therapy, a flippant question which got a semi-serious answer from the actor.

“Only once, I went mad in 2007,” Hugh said, matter-of-factly. “I got massaged into madness. I went on a holiday in the Maldives and I was extremely bored, so I thought, ‘I’ll have another massage.’ I was having about 30 massages a day. At the end of the holiday, I felt a little strange … I got on the plane to go home, opened the newspaper reading the football results, and I burst into tears. And I couldn’t stop crying for three weeks. It was completely absurd … so I went to see shrinks then.”

Grant didn’t give too many answers for his mental battles but did jest that he “can’t stop” having kids and when another guest to the talk show, Bryce Dallas Howard remarked on her mystical ability to predict pregnancies Hugh jokingly begged for her help.

“Oh God, predict mine. They’re out of control,” Grant said.

“How many kids do you have?” Bryce asked.

“Well, four at the last count, but I can’t stop. If you feel anything coming off me, let me know,” the celeb dad quipped.

Hugh welcomed his youngest child in December last year – it was his fourth child in four years to two different women.

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This is the bizarre trailer for Mariah Carey’s new reality TV show

Apparently it's Mariah Carey's world and we just live in it...

December 4 cannot come soon enough!

As the release date for the diva’s upcoming eight part docu-series is announced, another trailer (above) has been dropped and it is all kinds of incredible.

From planning her wedding with James Packer to making prank phone calls – the 46-year-old is in fine form in the latest one minute teaser.

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“I’d rather make everything fun! Is this a normal outfit that people wear? I don’t know but I’m at home and this is what I wear,” the mother-of-four proclaims as she reclines on a lounger in a sparkling corset.

Despite claiming her third wedding would be a more low-key affair, Mimi can be heard brainstorming about “white tigers and albino elephants” all taking part during her upcoming nuptials to the Aussie billionaire.

“We’re going to get Noah’s Ark at your wedding. I promise,” an event’s coordinator can be heard reassuring her on the other end of the call.

Never one to miss a beat, the 46-year-old hangs up the phone and giggled, “that guy doesn’t know that I was joking!”

The show promises to unveil the real Mariah in all her glory – the weird, the wild, the whacky!

“There is no typical day in Mimi’s life,” she muses.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BH0eXz2DnyB/?taken-by=mariahcarey&hl=en

On Wednesday, the heartbreaker hitmaker appeared at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in LA to talk about her upcoming reality show.

“It’s my life. It feels like a documentary. I don’t even watch reality [TV]. I don’t even know what reality is,” she explained.

She also hinted her ex-husband Nick Cannon, who she shares five-year-old twins Monroe and Moroccan with, might also be making a cameo.

“He’s cool about being on the show and coming around with the kids and very supportive.”

Although James is nowhere to be seen in the latest trailer, Mimi confirmed he will be on the show.

“Yes, he’s part of the series,” she revealed at Wednesday’s press conference.

“He’s not an entertainer, that’s not what he does, so I can’t expect him to change his whole thing. He’s a businessman and that is his world and I don’t try to permeate that,” she added.

Mariah’s World will premiere on the E! channel from December 4

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Eddie’s Perfect little family!

The Offspring favourite enjoyed a fun day out with his two daughters and wife in Sydney's Bondi recently.
Eddie Perfect

The Offspring favourite enjoyed a fun day out with his two daughters and wife.

Eddie Perfect looked to be in his element during a park play date in Sydney’s Bondi recently.

The actor was joined by his daughters, Kitty, Lottie Lux, and wife Lucy.

The happy family-of-four grabbed a bite to eat before heading to the park.

Click through the gallery to see their perfect day out!

Eddie Perfect

The Offspring favourite enjoyed a fun day out with his two daughters and wife in Bondi recently.

Eddie met his wife Lucy back in 2006.

The couple are the proud parents to Kitty and Lottie Lux.

The 38-year-old has won a legion of fans thanks to his portrayal of Mick on Offspring.

And he’s also a hit with the kids after years of working on Playschool.

Eddie recently revealed how tough the early days of Offspring were due to a very long commute from his home to the set.

“‘I was basically living out the back of my car, and I’d be leaving in the morning when my daughter was asleep and getting back home late at night when she was asleep again,” he explained to The Sunday Telegraph

His daughter Kitty is a born performer!

Eddie kept things casual in a black T-shirt and khaki trousers.

Eddie and Lucy first met on a wild night out. Watch Eddie talk about their chance encounter in the next slide. Gallery continues after the video

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Eddie Perfect talks about meeting his wife

Kitty and Lottie Lux had a ball at the park!

Aww! Lucy and Kitty share a special moment.

This year, the father-of-two also starred as one of the judges on Australia’s Got Talent.

But being a dad to his two girls is still his favourite job!

Kitty and Lottie Lux are just so adorable.

Eddie dotes on his girls!

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Eddie Perfect on Offspring

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Customer scrawls homophobic note on napkin to taunt gay waiter

Imagine doing your job well and then getting this note instead of a tip.

A waiter has been left distraught after a rude customer left him a $0 tip and a vile note which mocked his sexuality.

Eddy Cabrera was working at Chelly’s Café, a Mexican eatery in Kansas City in Missouri, on Saturday where a table of three regulars were being “rude the entire time,” one witness said.

The noisy table left but instead of thanking Cabrera for his hospitality they left a homophobic note that read: “Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”.

Having grown up in Guatemala he didn’t understand the meaning of the nasty note but when his friend Jonathon Antle explained it to him the young man “almost started crying”.

“This is his livelihood, and they treated him like dirt the entire time,” said Antle. “They just took food off of his “table” instead of treating him with basic human decency.”

Antle, who took to Facebook to post about the incident, added that these so-called “Christians” obviously didn’t understand the love and tolerance that should come with their religious teachings.

“What they wrote is not a Bible verse, although I know ‘if you do not love, you do not know God, because God is love’ sure as hell is.”

Since online outrage has ensued one of the rude diners has since apologised for the note that was left.

“I just truly apologise for the events that went into play today, from the bottom of my heart: I am sorry,” wrote the woman.

“My daughter’s Godfather is a homosexual, I would always support the LGBT community ’til the day I die,” she said.

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