Question I’m 14 and am attending my auntie’s non-traditional wedding soon. I’m wearing a simple short white dress with silver heels. I was wondering, what jewellery would look best with it? Meg, via email. Answer I would suggest to follow the direction of your shoe choice and keep all your accessories silver. Try to keep […]

Question I work as an executive assistant to the MD in a large corporation and need to look businesslike and corporate but find this extremely difficult in the hot and steamy weather. Do you have any suggestions on what I can wear that is both cool and businesslike? I am also a plus size. Karen, […]

Question Does the mother of the bride have to wear a hat? My daughter is getting married on Sydney Harbour later this month and I do not suit hats and I hate having ‘hat hair’, particularly if I need to take it off for dancing later. Dorothy, via e-mail. Answer These days dress codes are […]

Question I’m attending a black tie function and I’m after a simple plain black clutch bag. I’ll be wearing a floor length black satin dress. Kim, via e-mail. Answer Try the following bag companies. You can call them to find out your closest stockist. Olga Berg, Ph: 03 9419 6711 Reidels, Ph: 03 9383 6644 […]

Question I am 14 and I really want to decorate my room. The only thing I don’t know what to do with is my wardrobe. Should I organise it in sections, colours or what goes with what? Jess, via e-mail. Answer We suggest breaking it up into sections. Try these sections which you can then […]

I have found the best way to maintain my dog’s coat so that it is healthy and shiny is to give her a couple of eggs with a splash of olive oil once a week. It works really well — even for a 14-year-old corgie. Keryn

Question What is buttermilk and how do you use it? Carolyn Axelsen, via email Answer The name buttermilk was originally the term given to the slightly sour liquid left after butter was churned from cream. Today, buttermilk is intentionally made from no-fat or low-fat milk to which specific bacterial cultures have been added during the […]

Question I have been hearing about a root called galangal, similar to ginger root I think. Would you mind telling me how it is pronounced, if it tastes like ginger, if it’s used like ginger and if I can grow it in a pot. J Madden, Mudgeeraba, QLD Answer Also known as Ka, Thai or […]

Question: My 17-year-old son has bought, with our permission, a Staffy puppy. But boy are we getting some negative comments. She is now 10 weeks old and a fully-fledged part of our family, but why this reaction from people — are there any grounds for it? Karen Answer: Unfortunately Staffies (Staffordshire bull terriers) do suffer […]

Question: Just today I have noticed a build-up on my three-year-old cat’s back teeth. I removed it with minimal ease. How often should cats have their teeth cleaned? Jo Answer: Most pets have some tartar build-up by the time they reach three years. It occurs on all surfaces of all teeth (including under the gum […]