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Brangelina’s very own village

They may be forever jetting around the globe with their expanding brood, but even the world’s most famous family needs a place to put down some roots.

And what could be better for Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, their six growing youngsters and an army of assistants than their stunning 17th-century palace in the south of France, where they plan to move for good in July?

Bought for $56 million in 2008, Chateau Miraval boasts 35 bedrooms, a banquet hall, a wine cellar, a recording studio, two swimming pools, an olive grove and a vineyard.

Now that the $20 million worth of renovations are almost complete – with additions including a panic room, sauna, helicopter pad and motorcycle track – it seems the property could house a whole city!

Read more in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday March 28.

Woman’s Day

Front entrance of the Brad and Ange’s new home.

It seems their new place will offer plenty of room for their family.

Including Maddox, 9, Pax, 7, Zahara, 6, Shiloh, 4…

…and twins Knox and Vivienne, 2.

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Chrissie Swan fights back: I won’t be bullied

Chrissie Swan fights back: I won't be bullied

The Circle’s presenter is still surprised after receiving three Logie nominations. Now, as Clare Rigden finds, if people would stop having a go, she could sit back and enjoy it.

When Chrissie Swan arrived at last week’s TV Week Logie Awards Nominations event in Sydney, her head was already spinning. She had an inkling she may be nominated for one award. But three? And one for the Gold Logie? She was just about ready to fall over.

“It’s the most unexpected thing you could imagine – just crazy!” admits Chrissie, 37.

“I thought I was in Sydney to accept a Most Popular Newcomer nomination. But before the big announcement, we had a photo shoot. [Fellow Gold Logie nominees] Adam Hills and Rebecca Gibney were there, and they had all these little Gold Logie props, and I was like, ‘Are you for real? You can’t be serious…’”

But they were. And not only did The Circle’s presenter hear her name being called in the Most Popular Newcomer category, she also picked up nominations for Most Popular Presenter and the coveted Gold Logie.

“It was such a surreal moment,” she says. “All these amazing names were being read out – and then mine. All these celebrities – and me. I felt like I’d walked in off the street. Like I should have grabbed a tray of drinks and made myself useful! But it was just beautiful.”

Despite Chrissie’s joy, as news of her nominations spread, things started to turn a little sour. Talk-back radio and the internet were full of people questioning whether Chrissie – who had been on air just one year with The Circle and was, in their eyes, a TV newcomer and “nobody” – should have been nominated for television’s highest accolade.

Even Eddie McGuire weighed in on the debate, using his Triple M radio show in Melbourne as a platform to attack the Logies voting process – and Chrissie personally.

“You know when you vote for the dumb kid in the class to be the class captain just to gee up the teachers? We don’t want to get that going,” he said, referring to her nomination. Others on social networking forums such as Twitter and Facebook weren’t so polite. Chrissie remains philosophical.

Does Chrissie deserve three Logie nominations? Tell us below.

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Aussie Prince William lookalike

Living in London, Australian impersonator Simon Watkinson is commanding a princely fee for his appearances!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

Living in London, Australian impersonator Simon Watkinson is commanding a princely fee for his appearances!

Read all about Simon here!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

From a serious look…

Read all about Simon here!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

…to a more casual stance, he is cashing in as a Prince William lookalike.

Read all about Simon here!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

And a lookalike Kate Middleton completes his look.

Read all about Simon here!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

During the Woman’s Day photo shoot, Simon is recognised as Prince William by some fans.

Read all about Simon here!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

And the “prince” is more than happy to pose for photos.

Read all about Simon here!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

Despite living in London, Simon certainly has a soft spot for Australia.

Read all about Simon here!

Aussie prince: Simon Watkinson

Simon is treated to some home comforts.

Read all about Simon here!

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Our Aussie prince lookalike!

The palace prepares a royal wedding feast!

Australian impersonator Simon Watkinson is commanding a princely fee in London.

Standing outside Westminster Abbey, the church where he’ll wed fiancee Kate Middleton in a couple of weeks, Prince William is attracting curious glances from passers-by.

But a corked hat, packet of Twisties and copy of Woman’s Day give the game away. Our handsome prince is not a fair dinkum royal. He is Australian-born Simon Watkinson, 29, a civil engineer who has made a living impersonating William ever since the royal engagement was announced in November, 2010.

“When I was younger, going to primary school in Adelaide, I remember joking around with my brother,” recalls Simon, who now lives in the UK.

“We used to think our nanna looked like the queen! She probably doesn’t so much now, but maybe that’s where the genes have come from.”

In the lead-up to this month’s royal wedding, Simon is busier than ever, attending events, causing traffic jams and posing for shoots like ours – something his English girlfriend is not always happy about.

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How to save a fortune on clothing without sacrificing style

How to save a fortune on clothing without sacrificing style

Image: ThinkStock

Is your wardrobe in need of a serious fashion renovation, but you don’t have the space in your cupboard or you can’t afford to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on new-season fashion?

We’ve found eight failsafe ways to help you trade in your pre-loved clothing and make a little extra cash for new fashionable styles.

Shop smart

When you’re going shopping make sure you buy things you know you’ll wear.

We’ve all fallen into the trap of thinking something is a great buy because it has a discounted price tag, even though we know it doesn’t look so great on or it’s not the right size. Nine times out of 10 this item will sit in your wardrobe and will never be worn.

Think smart and shop for classic styles that suit and fit your body and remember just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you have to have it.

Fashion rentals

If you have a big event coming up and would love to arm yourself with a hot new designer handbag, step out in a flashy new dress or wear a killer pair of Christian Louboutin heels, but can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on the full outfit, why not rent it?

Love Me & Leave Me is a fantastic fashion rental website, which can help you style yourself head-to-toe in a designer outfit for a fraction of the cost.

The only downside is you have to return it after you’ve worn it.

Video:Fashion rentals

Clothing swaps

A great way to trade in your pre-loved items and pick up new styles, is having a clothing swap day with your family and friends.

Not only is it great for giving your wardrobe a free reno, it’s also a great way to catch-up, enjoy a Champagne and nibbles with friends.

Video:Fashion swapping

Shop and sell on eBay

Is your wardrobe overflowing with items that still have their prices tag attached?

Selling on eBay is a great way to make a few extra dollars to put towards new items for your wardrobe that you’ll love and wear.

Shopping on eBay is also a foolproof way to pick up designer fashion, without the expensive price tag. You can find great buys from Australian designers and International fashion houses online, just always check the authenticity with the seller and make sure you buy from seller’s that have high positive ratings.

Set up a PayPal account to easily manage your incoming funds and outgoing transactions.

Markets

On average women have around 100 items in their wardrobes and we only wear 30 percent of them. These pieces are taking up serious storage space in your wardrobe and need to go.

If selling on eBay isn’t your thing, book in a weekend at your local market and sell all the items you haven’t worn in the past 12 months to make some extra cash and put towards new updated pieces.

Savvy shopping sales

If you’re on the hunt for budget-friendly buys, visit MissyConfidential.com.au to stay-up-the-minute with the latest designer sales and sign up to their newsletter to get the scoop on sales in your area.

The Australian website is dedicated to sale alerts and has their finger on Zeitgeist with the best sales across all states. Also, look out for weekly sale ads in your local paper.

Op shopping

One person’s trash can be another person’s treasure, so if you’ve got a tight budget, head to op shops to find bargain buys.

The trick to finding stylish pieces is being patient. You may not find something immediately, but there are great pieces to be found. Trawl the racks, look for designer labels and you’re guaranteed to find a few items you’ll love and wear.

Video:Op-shop Fever

Vintage shopping

Like op shops, vintage stores can be a treasure trove for bargain buys and one-off yester-year pieces. You can find everything from pre-loved designer fashions to cheap handbags and accessories.

Be sure to take your time and rummage around the racks to find the best buys. Also, think how pieces can be teamed with other items in your wardrobe.

The trick to making vintage and pre-loved items look stylish is working them back with new items in your cupboard. Don’t dress all in vintage, otherwise your outfit can end up looking tired and shabby.

Related video:How to renovate your wardrobe.

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Prince William and Kate to live with Prince Harry

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Best mates: Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton attend a rubgy match together.

Prince William and Kate Middleton will be keeping it all in the family following their April 29 wedding, by moving into a house with Prince Harry.

The UK’s Daily Mail reports that while the pair have organised one of the biggest weddings in the world, they are yet to decide where they are going to live permanently once they become newlyweds.

The pair have decided that when they return from their honeymoon they will live in a suite at Clarence House with Harry, until they can come to a more permanent arrangement.

“Harry is away with the Army Air Corps most of the week, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem coordinating their diaries,” an unnamed source told the newspaper.

“The rooms aren’t particularly fancy but Catherine is used to them. She gets on brilliantly with Harry so it won’t be too much of a hardship shacking up with him for a while.”

When they are married, William and Kate will divide their time between London and North Wales, where William is based with the RAF.

They are reportedly considering Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace as their new home in London.

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Is white bread dying out?

Is white bread dying out?

Two decades ago, the only people eating brown bread were health food fanatics and New Yorkers.

But a new report has found that health-conscious Australians are increasingly choosing wholegrain varieties, steadily eroding the popularity of white bread.

In pictures: Your favourite recipes

Sales of wholegrain and nutrient-enriched bread are growing by 10 to 15 percent a year, IBISWorld wrote in their Bread Manufacturing in Australia report.

The market research company found that people were increasingly aware of the links between certain foods and cancer and heart disease, as well as the benefits of a high-fibre diet, which led them to purchase wholemeal bread instead of white varieties.

Related: Bread wars

IBISWorld analyst Naren Sivasailam said the UK and US were seeing a similar trend.

“This is indicative of the general food trends across much of the developed world, which is moving towards embracing the idea of health and nutrition,” Sivasailam told the Herald Sun.

“White bread still accounts for a majority of sales but there’s been a market shift away from white breads to wholegrain or other functional breads.”

Despite this, Australia’s biggest bakery franchisor, Baker’s Delight, said its standard white loaves are still its most popular product.

Your say: Do you think white bread will eventually die out?

Video: How fresh is your bread?

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William and Kate will share home with Harry

Don't wear white: Royal wedding rule book released

Most newlyweds can’t keep their hands off each other, but when Prince William and Kate Middleton marry will have to behave themselves. They will reportedly spend the first few months of married life sharing a home with Prince Harry.

The young couple are due to wed at London’s Westminster Abbey on April 29, in a ceremony that is expected to attract an international TV audience of over 2 billion.

In pictures: The evolution of Prince Harry

But after the carriage ride, balcony kiss and luxurious honeymoon, the newlyweds will be returning to the modest Clarence House apartment they currently share with William’s younger brother, Prince Harry.

An unnamed palace official said William and Kate have yet to decide where they want to live. Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Kensington Palace are all reportedly being considered, but until one is chosen and renovated, the newlyweds will stay where they are.

Related: Queen’s undies to go on sale after royal wedding

“The rooms aren’t particularly fancy but Catherine is used to them,” the source told the UK’s Daily Mail. “She gets on brilliantly with Harry so it won’t be too much of a hardship shacking up with him for a while.”

Your say: Would you agree to spend your first months of married life living with your brother-in-law?

The Weekly will be tweeting live from London on April 29. Follow @AWW_London and @WomensWeeklyMag for the latest news and gossip.

Video: Prince William has pre-wedding nerves

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Mariah Carey poses naked for pregnancy shoot

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A very pregnant Mariah Carey has bared all in a photo shoot with US magazine Life & Style just weeks before she is set to have her twins.

The 42-year-old singer appears on the magazine’s cover looking confident and proud of her bump, but during the magazine interview she said it was wasn’t a decision she made lightly.

“I was feeling very vulnerable about taking pictures at all right now, but then I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to document this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she told the magazine.

“My ultimate goal was to share this incredibly personal moment with my true fans.”

At eight months pregnant, Mariah is now awaiting the arrival of her first children, a boy and a girl, with husband Nick Cannon who has told the magazine he has never been so attracted to his wife.

“I thought I couldn’t love Mariah more,” he said. “But I have a whole new appreciation and admiration for her.”

Despite a minor complication last week, which saw Mariah rushed to hospital with early contractions, the pair are reportedly loving life while waiting to meet their two children, who they say are ready for a life in the spotlight.

“The babies were kicking almost the entire time; it was unbelievable,” she said.

“Especially the girl — clearly she’s a diva in training. We didn’t start shooting until 1.30am because I was in the hospital from the night before until the day of the shoot with contractions five minutes apart!”

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Even more reasons to meditate

Even more reasons to meditate

You already know that taking time out to practise meditation helps to still your thoughts and leaves you feeling physically and mentally calmer.

Now it seems that squeezing just 30 minutes of timeout into your busy daily schedule may also reduce your odds of developing dementia and possibly prevent mental health disorders such as depression.

In pictures: Ten hot tips to stay young

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Oregon, who took two groups of students and asked one to practise a meditation technique for half an hour each day for a month, while the other group practised a relaxation technique.

They discovered that the students who meditated demonstrated significant improvements in the brain’s anterior cingulate, the area that controls our emotional responses. And other research suggests that people with depression, dementia and ADHD tend to have poor performance in this part of their brains.

Your say: Have you found that meditation has improved your health?

Video: Meditation for stress relief

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