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Sneak peek inside Courteney Cox’s new home

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Courteney Cox has unveiled her new Malibu dream house in the latest issue of Elle Decor magazine.

The 46-year-old actress’ new home is spread over two acres and features guest cottages, a tennis court, a cinema, a salt water swimming pool and a fast food stand, all with commanding views of the Pacific Ocean.

“I wanted it to look like a modern barn,” Courteney told the publication. “Nothing too cluttered and not a lot of fancy details. I’ve been overseeing renovations of my homes for a long time, and I have strong opinions about what I want and why.”

Courteney Cox

Courteney on the cover of *Elle Decor*

Courteney on the cover of Elle Decor

Courteney in her new home

A lavish living area

One of the many outdoor entertaining areas

A living room

This banquette with a lava-rock fire pit is Courteney’s favourite part of the property

The salt water pool

Fast food stand where guests will be served hot dogs by chefs.

Balcony

The master bedroom

The master bedroom

A pool room

Meeting room

Art in a hallway

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*MasterChef*’s Rachel: How I lost 40 kilos!

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MasterChef's Rachel: How I lost 40 kilos!

The MasterChef contest is tough, but it’s nothing compared to the battle she’s won with her weight.

Most contestants on MasterChef Australia are more worried about dishing up their desserts than the kilojoule content, but not weight-conscious Rachel McSweeney. She is determined to keep her hands off the sweets! The 45-year-old mum from Perth has won the weight war, dropping 40kg and keeping it off.

Although Rachel might count competing in the Network Ten cooking series as a major life achievement, other women could argue that battling her weight and winning is more meaningful for her long-term happiness – and that of her three kids. “I loved being pregnant,” says Rachel, whose children Emily, 19, Daniel, 17, and Cameron, 15, all excitedly watch their mum on TV each night. “It was a great excuse to eat whatever I wanted and say, ‘Oh, I’m not fat, I’m pregnant!’” However, as Rachel expanded her family, her health became an increasing problem.

“After Cameron was born, when I checked out of the hospital, my exit weight was the same I weighed at full term before having my first child!” she remembers. “I joined Jenny Craig and lost 15kg, but I was breastfeeding and that’s a benefit. Then I stayed trim for 10 years.” Sadly, Rachel then developed endometriosis and adenomyosis, where endometrial tissue from the uterine lining grows in the uterine muscle. It meant she required a hysterectomy – at 38 years of age.

“I always had terrible period pains and thought it was normal,” she says. “We have three stairs in our house going from one area to another. One day I fainted and fell down the stairs and my husband [Kevin] said, ‘That’s not normal. Women don’t go through this’.“So we went to the doctor and we found out it wasn’t normal, and it wasn’t at all good. I had a tumour in my uterus the size of a football.”

Read more of Kate’s story and find out her weight loss secrets, plus eliminated contestant Jay reveals what’s on the MasterChef house shopping list, all in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale June 13, 2011.

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Amazing Race’s Chris: I’m no bully

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Amazing Race's Chris: I'm no bully

The guy everyone loves to hate shows his softer side to Woman’s Day.

He bullied, berated and badgered her on The Amazing Race Australia – but now Chris Pselletes has only one thing to say to his hapless girlfriend and co-contestant Anastasia Drimousis: “Sorry!”. The engineer, who stunned audiences with his brazen display of chauvinism, admits watching himself on TV has been disturbing. “Why do you argue with me all the time?” he yells. “Are you kidding? Wake up to yourself! Is this normal? You’re not thinking straight. You need discipline… you’ve never had any!”

But while engineer Chris’s sexist and aggressive behaviour toward Anastasia, a nutrition student at Sydney University, has seen him become reality TV’s latest villain, he says he’s now changed his ways. “I’m disgusted with my behaviour. I’m ashamed of myself,” says Chris, 23. “I saw some footage of me on the show and I scared myself.” Seeing his “verbally abusive” attacks has been a sobering experience for Chris, who says the hardest part of facing up to his failures has been dealing with the effect it is having on the woman he loves.

Your say: Do you think Chris acted like a bully? Share your thoughts below.

“I’m the psycho, I’m the big mouth. She’s done nothing wrong,” says Chris. “Anastasia, regardless of what people may think right now, means the world to me. I have verbally abused her and I am very apologetic. I am trying to change.” The series has seen Chris and Anastasia, who live separately in Sydney, become infamous for their explosive arguments. “I don’t appreciate being called an idiot,” Anastasia protested in one fight. “Don’t act like one and you won’t be called one,” Chris snapped back.

Later when Anastasia complained, “You don’t need to call me an idiot,” Chris’s replied, “You weren’t shutting up.” Chris’s harsh words have earned an equally harsh response from viewers. Since the show began airing, many have called for 21-year-old Anastasia to leave her boyfriend of three years – despite the pair’s plans to marry.

Why are contraversial couple Richard and Joey so surprised about the criticism they copped on the show? The pair reveals all in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale June 13, 2011.

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Jennifer Aniston’s love triangle

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Jennifer Aniston's love triangle

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux attend the Movie Awards After Party.

The star’s good girl image is shattered as she steps out with her new man Justin Theroux… leaving his girlfriend heartbroken.

The tabloid headlines scream, “Jennifer Aniston caught in torrid love triangle!” and at first it seems like Hollywood’s gossip machine has travelled back in time to 2005, when Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s affair left her life in pieces. But this time things are very different! Now Jen is being painted as the “scarlet woman” who has reportedly stolen writer and director Justin Theroux away from his girlfriend with her sheer sex appeal.

But those closest to Jen, 42, are worried that while bringing Justin, 39, under her spell will definitely have been an ego boost, it won’t necessarily be the recipe for the lasting happiness she so desperately craves. One friend who has known Jen for almost eight years tells Woman’s Day, “It is certainly not something I would have ever expected her to do. But she is sick of playing by the rules and always ending up alone.

“It seems the guys in Hollywood have always called the shots and it’s Jen who gets hurt. She wanted Justin, so she let him know that – he obviously wanted Jen more than he wanted the other girl.” The “other girl” is Justin’s long-time girlfriend, New York stylist Heidi Bivens, 34, who just last month was boasting about the “perfect” holiday they’d recently shared in Hawaii. She honestly believed they were still dating until she read about his fling with Jen in the newspaper two weeks ago.

A friend of Heidi’s tells Woman’s Day she is “heartbroken – and the most shocking thing is, Jen definitely knew about Heidi. She has a feeling of betrayal. She and Justin had been together for years and there was never any problem in their relationship before this.”

Bumping into an ex is always uncomfortable. So which one of Jen’s former flings bumped into her and Justin at the Movie Awards After Party? And could there be wedding bells for the new pair? Find out in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale June 13, 2011.

What do you think about Jen’s situation? Share your thoughts below.

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*Downton Abbey*’s Hugh Bonneville says meet my wife

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Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville says meet my wife

Hugh Bonneville and his wife Lulu.

Off screen, Hugh’s beloved wife and son are his whole world.

He is lord of the manor as Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham in Downton Abbey, but when the cameras stop rolling on the popular UK period drama, actor Hugh Bonneville is more than happy to hand over the reins at home. The 47-year-old, who starred in hit movies Notting Hill and Iris, explains his wife and “anchor” Lulu keeps his personal life running smoothly while being a full-time mum to the couple’s nine-year-old son Felix.

“Lulu’s priority has been to be a bedrock for Felix and me, and I’m completely indebted to her,” says Hugh, who has appeared in many other popular UK TV series including The Vicar Of Dibley, Midsomer Murders and will soon be seen in episodes of Doctor Who. Hugh met Lulu three decades ago when they were both teenagers living near each other in England’s West Sussex.

However, they lost touch for many years when he and his family moved out of the region. Fourteen years ago, their paths crossed again – and the rest, as they say, is history. “I had girlfriends, but settling down was the last thing on my mind,” Hugh says. “Then you meet someone and think, ‘This is the person I want to be with’. We had a shared history. That helps when you’re in it for the long haul.”

After tying the knot with Lulu when he was 35, Hugh dreamed of starting a family with his soul mate, but it didn’t happen in a hurry. “Felix was long looked for and we’re very blessed to have him,” he says. Devoted dad Hugh relishes telling stories about his little boy, and posting fun messages about him on Twitter.

Pick up this week’s Woman’s Day to see the other hunks of Downton Abbey, on sale on sale June 13, 2011.

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*Winners and Losers* star Mel Vallejo: My dream wedding!

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Winners and Losers star Mel Vallejo: My dream wedding!

TV star Mel Vallejo tied the knot with Matt Kingston in Melbourne.

The gorgeous actress ties the knot with her beau Matt Kingston, and Clare Rigden is there to share all the romance of a truly magical day.

Cold weather? Tick. Wintry skies? Tick. Rumbling trams in the background? Tick! When it came to the wedding of Winners & Losers star Melanie Vallejo, the setting couldn’t have been more Melbourne. All she needed was for the heavens to open and she’d have the quintessential Victorian winter wedding. “Someone was telling me the other day that if it rains on your wedding day, it’s good luck. And let’s face it, we’re in Melbourne – so there’s a very good chance of that happening!” says Mel, 31, as she catches up with Woman’s Day beforehand.

She needn’t have worried. Although it was cold, the skies cleared as Mel, who plays Sophie Wong on the hit Seven Network series, wed her fiance of a year, Matt Kingston, 29, at The Melbourne Supper Club in the inner city. As the sun dipped below the spires of the distant St Patrick’s Cathedral, guests couldn’t help but feel as though they were witnessing something special as Mel stepped out onto the terrace towards married life. “She just looked amazing,” says Matt, who was blown away upon seeing his gorgeous bride walk towards him.

“I was just telling myself, ‘Don’t lose it. Do not lose it.’ I was in pure survival mode. I knew I couldn’t get too caught up in the moment or else I’d just self-destruct!” In a creme floor-length dress designed for Mel’s gorgeous figure by Melbourne couturier Jason Grech, and with diamond earrings and bracelet from Anton Jewellery, she looked breathtaking.

Not one of the 50 guests could take their eyes off her as she made her entrance on the arm of mum Anna Phillips. “Mel is the most beautiful bride I have ever seen… like a Hollywood siren,” says her good friend and Winners & Losers co-star Virginia Gay, who attended the wedding with another co-star, Tom Wren. “I’m just so happy for her.”.

See all the stunning pictures of Mel’s big day and find out who performed a surprise serenade and what the couple replaced their wedding cake with in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale June 13, 2011.

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Kate’s three month baby plan

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Kate's three month baby plan

Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge attend the 10th Annual ARK Gala Dinner.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton reveals when we will hear the happy news and even predicts the sex of the baby!.

Glowing with happiness, the Duchess of Cambridge was the centre of attention at the UK’s Epsom Derby race day last week, upstaging even the Queen. Not that any of the royal family appeared to mind being overshadowed by Kate, who was on her first official outing as William’s wife. Kate, 29, looked comfortable and at ease in the Royal Box, as she chatted with her royal in-laws, who made it clear this former commoner had been well and truly welcomed into “The Firm”.

A royal spokesman has confirmed the newlyweds will soon move into the late Princess Diana’s beloved Kensington Palace in London. While the place is full of happy memories for William, 28, the recently refurbished, modest-sized apartment will only be a “temporary” home for the couple. This has sparked a whirlwind of speculation that Kensington Palace is not large enough for a family and that children are part of the very near future for Wills and Kate.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton goes so far as to predict the duchess will fall pregnant within the next few months. “I would bet on the fact that William and Kate will be starting a family soon,” Andrew tells Woman’s Day. “I’ve looked at this statistically – and the future sovereign, after they’ve got married, their partner would be pregnant within three months..

“I expect her to have a girl because helicopter pilots traditionally have girls and I expect the baby’s name to have Diana in it.” “I suspect it won’t be long before we hear of a royal pregnancy,” agrees Katie Nicholl, author of The Making Of A Royal Romance. “They’ve made it no secret they want to start a family. Kate will be 30 next year and her one job now that she’s married to an heir to the throne is to produce an heir.”

Kate is keen to improve her fertility, but how is she going about it? Find out in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale June 13, 2011.

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What is gelatine and how to avoid it?

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Gelatine is in many products

If you ever read food labels, you may have stumbled upon gelatine (or gelatin), as it is a common food additive used to thicken food substances. Find out all about gelatine, and its alternatives.

What is gelatine?

Gelatine is a substance that originates from the bones and skins in animals. Believed to have originated in Western Europe and the United Kingdom in the 17th century, it was discovered when someone noticed that the cooking liquid used to boil meat for soup gelled upon cooling. It is found in some gummy lollies, marshmallows, jelly desserts, and some low-fat yoghurt.

Gelatine is typically produced in a powdered or granulated form. Slightly yellow to light tan in colour, it is a rather tasteless and odourless substance. Gelatine is commonly used in making jelly-like desserts, such as panna cotta. However, the usefulness of gelatine goes beyond that. Gelatine works like a starch and thickening agent. Consequently, gelatine is very useful as an additive to foods that are marketed as low-fat, or fat-free. In vitamins and medicines, gelatine can be used as a coating to cover a bitter taste or as a capsule to contain the powders.

Is gelatine bad for you?

Gelatine offers little real nutritional value. It is a poor source of protein and is low in essential amino acids.

However, some people try to avoid gelatine because it is not vegetarian or due to religious beliefs. If you are one of those people, you should know what common foods contain gelatine.

Gelatine alternatives

Gelatine is hard to avoid because it’s in so many things: medicines, lollies and even photographic film. If you want to avoid eating gelatine, you need to ensure you read the label and look out for gelatine or artificial thickening agents.

There are plenty of plant-based gelatine substitutes, such as agar-agar and carrageenan (both made from seaweed), guar gum, xanthan gum, arrowroot powder and cornflour.

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Jennifer Aniston: A decade of hotness

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Jennifer Aniston has taken out the Decade of Hotness Award at the Spike TV Awards in Los Angeles. We take a look back at Jen’s looks through the years and find out how she is still looking so hot!

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston has taken out the Decade of Hotness Award at the Spike TV Awards in Los Angeles. We take a look back at Jen’s looks through the years and find out how she is still looking so hot!

Jennifer Aniston

Since she hit our TV screens as Rachel Green in the successful sitcom Friends the world couldn’t get enough of Jennifer Aniston.

Jennifer Aniston – 1995

During her time on the show Jen became known for her hair and although she later admitted that she hated the hair style that she wore for the first two years of the show, “The Rachel” became and remains very popular among women.

Jennifer Aniston – 2000

During her time on the show Jen experimented with different hair styles including this bob cut.

Jennifer Aniston – 2003

It was reported in the UK’s Telegraph that a survey done by two Hollywood plastic surgeons found that Jen was one of the celebrities with the most sought after body shape.

Jennifer Aniston – 2004

Jen has appeared on People magazine’s annual list of The Most Beautiful every year since 1995, and came in at number one in 2004.

Jennifer Aniston – 2005

Although her hair made her famous in the first part of her career, Jen’s body soon became a hot talking point as well.

Jennifer Aniston – 2007

Jen has only got better with age and she credits yoga, running, eating a healthy diet and taking care of herself overall for her toned and trimmed body and youthful skin.

Jennifer Aniston – 2008

But apart from her looks, Jen is hot stuff when it comes to the screen. She is one of Hollywood’s most profitable actresses and has been on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, based on “earnings and fame”, every year since 2001.

Jennifer Aniston – 2010

So how does she keep herself looking so good? Jen eats clean by keeping herself on a strict diet free of processed foods and rich in vegetables and lean proteins.

Jen says her two personal chefs, Jewels and Jill Elmore, have helped her to ‘see a kitchen from a place to store PowerBars to a sanctuary that has become the most important room in the house.’

Jennifer Aniston – 2011

Jen hit headlines for her hair again recently when she transformed her famous do from this…

Jennifer Aniston

…to this short and sophisticated bob. What can we say? Jen just gets better with age!

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Top tips for op-shopping

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Top tips for op-shopping

Model dressed in head-to-toe op-shop clothing for $90 (details below)

The Weekly’s Market Editor Olivia Fleming on how you can bag a designer-inspired outfit for less at your local charity shop.

When my editor came up with the idea of shooting our June fashion story in head-to-toe (no cheating) op-shop pieces, I bravely (and a little bit sceptically) rose to the challenge.

In pictures: Top trends from Australian Fashion Week

Three days and 12 Vinnie’s and Salvation Army stores later (vintage shops, the kind that charge $300 for a coat, were strictly off-limits), I was armed with enough loot to dress our entire fashion department.

While it helps to know your Gucci from your Prada when searching through the mounds of unwanted clothes for hidden gems (there were several eureka moments when I spotted particular pieces that were ‘just like this seasons Celine!’), there are plenty of other ways to ensure you find great pieces, or whole outfits, buried in your local op-shop.

Top tips for op-shopping:

Lesson 1: Don’t be afraid to trawl through the menswear section to find well tailored, classic and chic pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Lesson 2: A trip to the drycleaner with your purchases will have even the most seasoned fashion know-it-all wondering what designer store you got those great (but previously musty-smelling, crumpled and tired-looking) trousers from.

Lesson 3: Keep an eye out for luxury fabrics. You’ll be surprised how many cashmere jumpers and silk blouses you can find for less than $10.

Lesson 4: Don’t give up. You may find nothing today, but tomorrow there will be countless items you won’t want to leave without.

Related: Designer op-shops

Model in photo wears:

Wool jacket – $20

Cotton shirt – $10

Cotton and polyester pants – $18

Gold plated necklace – $10

Leather bag – $10

Suede shoes – $22

TOTAL – $90

Read more of this story in the June issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.

Your say: What is the best thing you’ve ever found at an op-shop?

Subscribe to 12 issues of The Australian Women’s Weekly for just $69.95 and receive a BONUS Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Cream valued at $42.95. That’s a 15% saving on the retail price.

Video: Op-shop fashion

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