She’s wowed the nation with solid performances week in-week out, but to her boyfriend, Swedish record producer Christian Nilsson, Samantha Jade’s always been a star.
The couple fell in love when Samantha, 25, was recording songs in Sweden several years ago. “They moved to Los Angeles together and have been inseparable ever since,” a friend of the pair reveals to Woman’s Day. Samantha’s rocky road to success has been well documented on The X-Factor, which she admits is her final shot at stardom.
“Sammy was being flown around the world first class when she was still a kid,” X-Factor judge and her mentor Guy Sebastian reveals. “She was signed to Britney’s label and when Britney took off, she kind of got sidelined.”
Friends say Christian has been by Sammy’s side through thick and thin. The couple have been in a long-distance relationship since she moved back to Perth and began working for her father’s mining company while Christian stayed in LA. But the handsome Swede remains Sam’s biggest fan. “I love you,” he writes on her Facebook page. “Miss you doll.” Clearly, it will take more than distance to tear this loving couple apart.
Read more about Samantha’s love interest in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday November 19, 2012.
Pictures of Prince William at work released by St James’s Palace and posted online have caused security concern for the RAF.
The 10 images, showing a day in the life of Flight Lieutenant Wales, were posted to the Duke and Duchess’s new website but were not first cleared by the Ministry of Defence. Among the snaps of William making his bed, eating dinner and pouring a cuppa, were images of the prince working at his computer, with passwords and user names clearly visible.
The RAF were forced to reset the computer passwords of RAF staff following the images being released.
The self-help guru is in need of some advice of his own as his 36-year marriage hits shaky ground.
He’s helped countless people around the world with his own special brand of straight-talking advice, but now it’s Dr Phil McGraw himself who could do with some words of wisdom.
The psychologist, who shot to fame as a regular guest of Oprah Winfrey before going out on his own with a top-rating talk show, is reportedly having marital woes with his wife of 36 years, Robin. Not even the $30 million mansion the TV therapist bought with cash two years ago has helped ease the tension between the couple, with the sprawling Beverly Hills home becoming a backdrop for fights and screaming matches.
“Since moving Robin into the palatial estate, it seems like their marriage is worse than it was before,’’ a source tells US magazine National Enquirer. “They engage in fights and screaming matches. For Robin, it’s like the place has turned into her own personal ‘house of horrors’ .”
According to US reports, the couple’s recent troubles stem from Dr Phil, 62, hogging the spotlight on his talk show, on which Robin regularly appears. Robin, 58 – a self-help guru in her own right and author of several best-selling books – has had discussions with TV networks about starting her own talk show. But sources say she fears her popularity will wane unless she gets more time to shine on Dr Phil’s gabfest – something he appears unwilling to give her.
Read more about Dr Phil’s marriage break-down in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday November 19, 2012.
It’s common for parents to feel pangs of guilt when dropping kids off at daycare, and new research will only make matters worse.
A recent study has found that leaving children at nurseries between the ages of one and four may encourage obesity, with school children 50 per cent more likely to be overweight than those who stayed at home with parents.
The study by the University of Montreal found that children left in the care of relatives also had a significantly higher risk of obesity.
Dr Marie-Claude Geoffroy, the study leader, said: “We found that children whose primary care arrangement between 1.5 and four years was in daycare-center or with an extended family member were around 50 per cent more likely to be overweight or obese between the ages of four and 10 years compared to those cared for at home by their parents.”
The research, which was based on 1,649 families in Quebec with children born between 1997 and 1998, did not identify reasons for the difference in weight, but factors such as unhealthy meals, regular snacking and lack of exercise are all thought to play a role.
“This difference cannot be explained by known risk factors such as socioeconomic status of the parents, breastfeeding, body mass index of the mother, or employment status of the mother,” Dr Geoffroy said.
Certainly, exercise and access to healthier options for snacks and meals are considered key to ensuring children of this age sustain good health and an optimum weight.
“Diet and physical activity are avenues to follow,” says Dr Sylvana Côté, who co-directed the study.
“Parents don’t have to worry. However, I suggest to parents they ensure their children eat well and get enough physical activity, whether at home or at daycare.”
Each year, 35,000 people are listed as missing in Australia and, sadly, many of their stories never make news. But the case of 25-year-old Daniel O’Keeffe is unusual.
On paper, Dan had the perfect life; a loving family, devoted girlfriend and privileged upbringing in an upmarket area of Geelong. He was well educated, well liked and, by the age of 24, had travelled the world and opened his own mixed martial arts school.
But on a chilly winter morning last July, Daniel O’Keeffe walked out the back door of his family home and hasn’t been seen since. He was wearing the clothes he had woken in, jeans, a hoodie and ugg boots, and left behind personal belongings. He had no wallet or money, just his phone, which has been switched off.
A sighting of Daniel in Queensland has confirmed that he is alive, perhaps living in a dissociative or amnesic state, or even willingly homeless. The family’s relentless quest to find Daniel has captured hearts and headlines around the world.
“We’ve had people we’ve never met donate billboards, print posters, walk the streets handing out cards with Dan’s picture. One woman in Queensland printed 500 posters and distributed them around,” says Daniel’s sister, Loren, who has now given up her job and moved to Queensland to lead the search for Daniel.
Daniel’s disappearance has struck a chord with the community, with thousands spreading the word through social media and attracting international attention, but precisely how and why this talented martial arts instructor, a fit and “grounded” young man, could simply vanish without a trace remains a puzzle that plagues police and the close-knit O’Keeffe family.
They have put their lives on hold and have mounted an exhaustive campaign, including a $50,000 reward, to bring Daniel home.
“We love Dan with all our hearts,” says Loren. “We just want to know he is okay and we will do anything to help him.”
For every minute of every day since Dan disappeared, the O’Keeffe family have struggled to fight off the inevitable thoughts that he may have committed suicide or been involved in an accident. Yet a confirmed sighting of Daniel at a medical centre outside Brisbane just before Christmas has given them renewed hope he is alive.
“I cried when I saw the CCTV footage,” says Loren. “It was Dan, no doubt. It was the first time since he went missing that we had tangible evidence he was alive. We’ve all had moments of fearing the worst, but we saw him with our own eyes.”
The young man in the video said his name was James — Dan’s middle name.
Loren was sure it was Dan. Although the family was relieved to have some reassurance that Dan could still be out there, living a normal life, his diagnosis with depression last February heightens their concerns.
The family accept that, with Dan’s illness, there is a chance he may not want to be found and they are also mindful that the Daniel they know would not like the media attention. “We don’t want to deter him from contacting us,” says Loren.
“He doesn’t have to come home if he doesn’t want to. We just want to know he is safe and well. We are so worried about his health and we need everyone to help us, despite whatever embarrassment he may feel.”
“We will never give up searching for him,” says Des. “We love Dan unconditionally and we will deal with whatever needs to be dealt with when we find [him]. We just need to find him first.”
Anyone with information about Daniel can phone Loren on 0478 661 092 or visit dancomehome.com. To speak to someone about mental illness, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Read more of this story in the December issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
When news that a 48-year-old Melbourne mother of 12 was in hospital awaiting the arrival of five more precious babies last month, the story raced around the globe, and strangers unleashed abuse describing the mother as disgraceful, irresponsible, selfish and greedy. The tiny bubs were even called “potential dole bludgers.”
With 12 children and 13 grandchildren of her own, 48-year-old Sandra Dodd is one of the few people who can truly understand the nappies, night feeds and nursery logistics required to raise such a family.
“My first thought was how wonderful for them. I was so happy for her and I could imagine those little babies nestled in her arms, but I also knew that not everyone would congratulate them,” she says.
Sandra has been pregnant for nine years, changed over 30,000 nappies, lovingly made more than 26,000 school lunches and washed more clothes than anyone could dare to count.
Her husband Anthony had to get an endorsed truck licence to driver the kids around in their 14-seater family car, and they fill at least two trolleys on every grocery trip.
Sandra gives the family roll call without blinking. There’s Rachelle, 31, Rebecca, 30, Nathaniel, 27, Vanessa, 26, Justin, 24, Kaitlyn, 22, Meghan, 21, Gabrielle, 18, Nicholas, 14, Matthew, 12, Liam, 11, and Jorja, six, and now 13 grandchildren making up the Dodd clan. The eldest have moved out and five children remain at the now “quiet” home.
The Dodds have certainly bucked the trend of smaller families and raising a family of such magnitude in modern-day Australia requires military precision, but there is a lot to be learned from this vibrant and loving family, which doesn’t just survive but thrives.
“The secret is simple,” Sandra says.
“A lot of love, a lot of discipline and learning to say no.
“At dinner we have one meal and if you don’t like it, bad luck. I won’t cook different meals for different kids. If I can put something on the table that 99 per cent of them will eat, then I’ve done my job.
“We are consistent. If I say no, Anthony says no. The kids know the boundaries and as unpleasant as it can be saying no to kids sometimes, they live with it.”
When all of the children were at home, the family would go through a staggering six loaves of bread and nine litres of milk a day, and so she quickly mastered the art of savvy shopping to balance the weekly budget.
Sandra doesn’t go to the hairdresser, but now that Gabrielle is studying hairdressing, that is taken care of. The kids are home-schooled and in the days when all the children were at home they would bathe in shifts with five kids in the bath and once and the littlies would sleep top-to-toe in bunk beds.
And of course there are some rules.
“We have one TV in the living room and we watch TV as a family, so everything we watch must be PG and suitable for all ages, and we absolutely ban mobile phones until they are 18. Tony and I only got our first mobile phones this year and I can’t stand seeing a group of teenagers in a room texting one another, not conversing,” Sandra says.
A big family was probably always on the cards for the devoutly Catholic couple, who were 17 and 20 when they married. Sandra was one of eight kids and Anthony one of nine.
“I look at families with less children and I sometimes think they’re missing out. I really like being with my kids. They are great and we have a lot of fun together. I enjoy doing things for them.”
It’s exhausting just thinking about it, yet she wouldn’t rule out adding to the bustling Dodd brood. “You never say never,” she says, smiling, “I love babies and if another was to come our way we’d be delighted, although I don’t think the older children would be as thrilled!”
Read more of this story in the December issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
Radio host Fifi Box has announced she is pregnant with her first child.
The 35-year-old presenter from Melbourne revealed the good news live on air during her radio show, Fifi and Jules, on Monday.
“It’s the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me. Look out, there’s another Box coming into the world!” a delighted Fifi said.
Fifi, who maintains she has always wanted a family, also wrote a statement on the website fifiandjules.com saying that she felt there was always something missing in her life.
“I have been blessed throughout my life and loved every twist and turn in my journey, but despite the happiness I have experienced with career and friendships, there has always been something missing,” she wrote.
“Like many women in their thirties I was starting to wonder if it had come at a cost, and for me it was the greatest cost because, despite loving my life, nothing could replace what I truly wanted more than anything – to be a mother.”
Fifi, who has made no secret of being unlucky in love, says she began seeing someone at the end of last year who wishes to remain out of the public eye. The pair say they are committed to bringing a happy, healthy baby into the world.
Madeleine Pulver and her father Bill after today's sentencing
Relief has finally come for Sydney girl Madeleine Pulver and her family today as the man who strapped a fake collar bomb around her neck holding her hostage in the family’s Mosman home was jailed for at least ten years.
Paul Douglas Peters was given a maximum sentence of 13 years and six months in jail for the terrifying extortion attempt which took place in August last year.
As Judge Peter Zahra handed down his sentence, Madeleine’s father Bill broke into tears and hugged his daughter, who was also crying, while Peters had no reaction.
Outside the court, the brave 18-year-old said she was pleased the process was over.
“I realise it’s going to take quite some time to come to terms with what happened but today was important because now the legal process is over,” she said.
“For me it was never about the sentencing but to know that he cannot reoffend, and it was good to hear the judge acknowledge the trauma he has caused my family and me.”
Madeleine added that she was surprised to find this year much harder than last year, but was lucky to have had the support of her family and friends.
Judge Zahra acknowledged the devastating effect the act has had on the family, saying the impact on the young woman had been severe.
“The fear instilled can only be described as unimaginable,” he told the court.
“The victim was vulnerable. She was on her own studying for her trial HSC exams. She was entitled to the sanctuary of her home.”
While the judge was told during sentence hearing Peters had no memory of attaching the collar bomb and that there were psychiatric issues at play, today he was held accountable for his actions.
“He would have appreciated the enormity of what he was doing and the impact on the victim,” Judge Zahra said.
“His mental condition did little to reduce the moral culpability — he would have understood that his victim was in fear for her life.”
The summer might have been a bit slow to get-going this year, but as the weather hots-up, so should you! Get ready for swimsuit season with these simple beauty and health tips that will have you bikini-ready in a flash!
Kick start your metabolism in the morning by drinking a glass of water with the juice of half a lemon squeezed into it. If this is too bitter, add a teaspoon of honey.
Eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies, which should form at least 50 per cent of your meal. Stick to lean meat, white fish and pulses, which contain amino acids to combat fluid retention.
Incorporate cellulite-fighting foods such as berries (blueberries, cranberries etc.) and citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit). These foods contain anti-oxidants which help eliminate cellulite-causing toxins, and are rich in Vitamin C to build collagen in the skin.
Stay away from fatty and processed foods which contain a lot of salt and preservatives and make you retain water. Graze on small portions throughout the day, making sure to eat every two hours until 6pm, but avoid eating after this time.
Drink plenty of water (6-8 glasses a day) to flush out excess toxins. Avoid soft drinks which will make you bloat, and definitely steer clear of alcohol: the fastest way to make you gain weight in all the wrong places – it’s called a ‘beer belly’ for a reason!
Help lift and smooth out lumps and bumps by exercising every day. Start with some gentle cardio such as walking or swimming for 20 minutes, and aim to attend a Pilates class a couple of times a week to firm up those bellies, buttocks and thighs.
At home and at work, add easy exercises into your daily routine. The aim is to keep moving as much as possible, as you can burn off calories even with sedentary exercise. Some suggestions are:
Taking the stairs instead of the lift, or walk up the escalator
Jumping off the bus a few stops before your destination
Doing some squats or lunges in front of the television
Tensing your bum muscles while sitting at your desk.
Make sure you pay attention to the small details. A week of strict diet and exercise can go completely unnoticed if someone points out your prickly legs and flaky nail polish!
Wax your legs a couple of days before hitting the beach, or if you prefer, stay with shaving. Use a soothing lotion afterward to avoid red, goose-pimply skin.
Exfoliate your body thoroughly using a loofah to get rid of dead skin cells and brighten the appearance of your skin. This will also help prevent in-grown hairs.
Don’t rely on cooking yourself in the sun to get a tan – there are plenty of quality fake tans available that will have you looking sun-kissed after a simple application. The tinted moisturisers such as Garnier Summerbody Moisturising Lotion are the best option, allowing you to build up colour with each application – don’t reapply more than once a day and if you’re pale skinned don’t go for the ‘dark’ or ‘deep’ shades!
You don’t need to get a professional pedicure to fix-up your feet, but don’t think no-one will notice if you fail to give them a bit of TLC before hitting the beach.
Pay attention to unsightly dry skin, especially on your heels which can easily be removed with an emery board or pumice stone and don’t forget give your toes a fresh polish, making sure you seal the colour with a shiny top coat. Bright colours set-off a golden glow beautifully!
Skin and body care are just as important while at the beach as at home. Protect yourself with sunscreen (at least SPF 30) before you go, and make you have the bottle handy to reapply throughout the day. The aim is to get that sun-kissed golden glow, not skin damage!
Avoid wearing full make-up to the beach – it will most likely come off in the surf anyway, and could result in a blotchy face tan! Minimise your make-up, but maximise the natural beach beauty-look by simply donning some waterproof mascara and protective lip balm.
Shelley Craft. Photography by Alana Landsberry. Styling by Mattie Cronan.
After 18 years in the notoriously fickle television industry, Shelley Craft’s star still seems to be on the rise — a fact that has her whole family thoroughly puzzled.
Her brother jokes about her success constantly, and ever her mother didn’t see her daughter’s TV career coming. Many years ago, when a psychic predicted that one of Sally’s kids would become a household name, she assumed the mystic was talking about Shelley’s ballet-dancing older sister.
Shelley herself is equally bemused by her enduring appeal.
“It’s being confident with who you are, flaws and all,” she tells the December issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
“I find it very comfortable being me. I’m not the tallest, I’m not the prettiest, I’m not the smartest, but I’m happy with who I am … I’m just average. I’m as average as it gets.”
Maybe, but no one lasts that long on TV if they haven’t got the goods. Ever since Shelley’s first appearance as an effervescent 18-year-old — wearing an ice-cream bucket on her head for a Saturday Disney piece on magpie-bombing season — her personality has been her stock in trade.
It’s as simple, and as complex, as that. Viewers like her and, on TV, likability is king.
Shelley has won fans with her girl-next-door warmth and bubbly good humour, but motherhood, she says, has finally given her permission to grow up.
“Milla allowed me to take myself a little bit more seriously,” says 36-year-old Shelley. “It’s funny, I’ve probably had more success in my commercial career as a mum, and maybe that’s what I am now. I’m not an actress and I’m not a journalist; I’m a mum.”
Managing her career as well as two kids is exhausting and logistically tricky, but Shelley may well be working on a new addition to the family by next Christmas.
“Four’s a pretty good number,” she says, “so we’ll see if we get that far.”
Read more of this story in the December issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
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