Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 25, 2025 i that's life!

The words ‘one pan’ or ‘one pot’ are music to my ears when it comes to ideas for what to cook for dinner. It’s no secret that I like my food. In fact, I’m someone who genuinely enjoys wandering around the supermarket aisles imagining what I could whip up from the shelves. Imagining is the key part. You see I find the browsing and ‘shopping with my eyes’ far more fun than the actual cooking part. Chopping up veg seems to take an age, and rice is far from speedy, and that’s once I’ve decided what to make. Pesto pasta is always a winner, and it’s hard to go wrong with meat and Mexican seasoning in my book. And, to be honest, I’m more than partial to a good old…

AUSSIE REAL LIFE Jason’s trip to pick up his mail took a serious turn when a roo approached Jason Bridge, 55, Willows, Qld Checking the wall clock, I saw it was nearly midday. Just enough time to get the post, I thought heading out at 11.45am. Living in Willows, Qld, 340 kilometres west of Rockhampton, our local shop – the only one in town – doubled as a post office, and it closed at noon. It was January this year and a 32-degree day, so I was just wearing shorts and thongs, holding my T-shirt in my hand. Shutting the front door, I headed around my water tank towards my ute parked in the driveway. Spotting two huge grey kangaroos mating in the carport just metres away, I stopped in…

After suffering debilitating symptoms, Tenika discovered she had a rare condition Tenika Nicotra, 29, Perth, WA As I carefully applied polish to my client’s nails, she smiled. ‘I love them!’ she said, inspecting my work. It was October 2017 and, aged 22, I loved my job as a nail technician. Applying the final coat of polish though, I suddenly felt a strong pressure in my left ear. I could also hear a thump, thump, but couldn’t pin down exactly what it was. Maybe my ear is blocked, I winced, hoping the uncomfortable sensation would dissipate. But days passed and the funny feeling remained. At night in bed when it was super quiet, the never-ending pulsating wore on my nerves, affecting my sleep. Lying wide awake in the wee hours of…

BAKED RICE PUDDING WITH PEARS AND STRAWBERRIES SERVES 10 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 10 MINS 4 ripe pears, peeled ½ cup caster sugar 250g punnet strawberries, halved RICE PUDDING ¾ cup medium grain rice ⅓ cup caster sugar 3½ cups milk 2 tsp vanilla bean paste 25g butter, chopped 1 Cut pears into quarters. Remove and discard cores. Cut each quarter in half and place in a large roasting pan with 1 cup water and sugar. 2 Cook in a 180°C preheated oven, stirring halfway through, for about 45 mins, or until pears are tender. Stir in strawberries. Stand, covered, until ready to serve. 3 To make rice pudding, add rice, sugar, milk, vanilla and 2 cups water to a greased, large ovenproof dish (12-cup capacity). Stir to combine.…

Place cling wrap over the surface of an open tub of ice cream before returning it to the freezer to prevent ice crystals forming. Karen Todd, via email Pour leftover cold tea onto the soil of your vegie garden. It works as a natural fertiliser booster. Jane Lawrence, Sheffield, Tas I make a face mask with mashed avocado mixed with a little honey and lemon. After applying, I put slices of cucumber on my eyes, relax for 15 minutes, rinse and feel fantastic! Noelle Martin, Christchurch, NZ If your kids aren’t keen on yoghurt, spoon it into popsicle moulds and turn it into ice blocks. Georgie Ryan, Mackay, Qld When barbecuing fish, cover the hotplate with baking paper. The fish will brown, it won’t stick, and it’s easy to clean…

5 This number of hugs per day will help boost oxytocin and improve your mood. OATS SO GOOD A winter favourite, oatmeal is packed with health benefits. It helps lower cholesterol and, if eaten regularly, can reduce your risk of heart disease. It helps stabilise blood sugar levels by slowing digestion – great for people with type 2 diabetes. It also supports digestive health, regular bowel movements, and has antioxidants that help lower blood pressure. Fill that bowl! 17 If you go without sleep for this many hours, your brain performs as if it’s over the legal alcohol limit. 3 WAYS TO… ditch a bad habit Sometimes it’s good to be a quitter 1 IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS Bad habits are usually on a loop of cue, craving and reward. Try…

Fashed fave! Splurge! Burgundy hues get better with time! Pair this rich hue with dark indigo denim, crisp white and even shades of brown! Steal! TRENDING NOW Cherry beauty Whether it’s for the luscious scent or for its antioxidant-rich properties, cherry is the hottest skincare ingredient right now. Cherry has a natural supply of vitamins A, B, C, and E, which can help with signs of premature ageing and also help correct hyperpigmentation. Here are our top picks!…

Did you know that the day of the week you were born on holds a special significance? The famous nursery rhyme, ‘Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace…’ hints at the old belief that the day of your birth affects your character. Let’s see what your birth day says about you! Monday – Moon’s child If you were born on a Monday, you’re ruled by the Moon, symbolising emotions, intuition and deep connections. You are likely to be empathetic, nurturing and intuitive. Your moods may shift like the tides, but your sensitivity makes you a great friend. Your path often involves caring for others. Tuesday – warrior Tuesday is ruled by Mars, the planet of action and courage. You’re likely energetic, determined, and independent, with…

WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED This is Zoe with her best friend Emma. She loves her so much! Rosamond Jean Hamer, Springfield, Qld My big wonderful family had breakfast together the day after I got married last November. Josephine Brown, Blacktown, NSW Our rescue cat Gracie was in awe of the cat tower we gave her. Christine Beeson, Mirrabooka, WA $50 CASH WHAT’S ODD? PUZZLE HOW TO WIN... This image has been taken from the film Oceans 8. We have tinkered with the image and added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (7). Write which object doesn’t belong only on the entry coupon and you could be a winner. Turn to entry coupon (p50) to enter! WINNERS ARE GRINNERS Mia, four, put in her requests for dinner…

Watching actor Jonah Hill laughing on the TV screen, Natalie Cochran smiled. She was watching the movie War Dogs, about two friends who, with no prior experience, sold arms to the US military and made millions. It gave her an idea. Natalie had a stable income as a pharmacist, but she wanted more for her husband, Michael, and their two kids. The pair had attended university together where he’d studied computers and she’d studied pharmacology. After graduating, they married in 2000 and started a family. Michael, a natural athlete who loved powerlifting, worked in IT, had renovated their palatial house and coached their son’s football and basketball teams. Now, he marvelled at his wife’s commitment. Natalie left behind her pharmaceutical career to set up her own company, Tactical Solutions Group…

MOROCCAN CHICKEN TRAY BAKE SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 1.2kg (6) chicken thigh cutlets, skin on 1 large orange sweet potato (650g), peeled, cut into large chunks 3 large zucchini (500g), halved lengthways, cut into large chunks 1 tbsp olive oil 1½ tbsp Moroccan seasoning 1 tbsp honey 200g punnet medley cherry tomatoes 100g soft feta, coarsely crumbled Fresh coriander sprigs, to serve 1 Place chicken cutlets, sweet potato and zucchini in a large roasting pan (or on a large, shallow-sided, non-stick oven tray). Drizzle over oil. Sprinkle with seasoning. Toss to coat. Arrange in an even layer. 2 Cook in a 200°C preheated oven for 30 mins. Remove. Drizzle over honey. Turn sweet potato and zucchini and scatter over cherry tomatoes. 3 Return to same oven and…

RASPBERRY CHOC CHEESECAKE SERVES 8 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 10 MINS 4 pack (420g) Double Chocolate Muffins Whipped cream, to serve FILLING 2 x 250g packets cream cheese ¾ cup caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 3 eggs ⅔ cup sour cream ¼ cup custard powder 125g punnet raspberries, plus extra to serve 1 Invert the base of a 22cm round springform pan (base measures 21cm). Grease and line base and side with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above pan edge. 2 Crumble three muffins into coarse crumbs. Sprinkle into prepared pan. Press lightly to cover base of pan in an even layer. Place pan on an oven tray. 3 To make filling, process cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Add eggs, one at…

A hiking hero Krissy Miller had always wanted to become an organ donor. So it was something like fate when she crossed paths with Shiller Joseph while he was out hiking with his wife, Rhona, in September 2023. Krissy was out walking in an effort to lose a few kilos to be safely added to the organ donation registry. She got chatting to Shiller, 46, who opened up about needing a kidney transplant. ‘I remember thinking, If I’m willing to donate to anyone, why not this person standing right in front of me? she told People. Shiller, a father of three, told Krissy he’d been battling lupus, an autoimmune disease that attacked his kidneys, since he was 20, and had started dialysis in 2021. He told her with his blood…

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Editor Sarah Firth, Deputy Editor Beth Young, Art Director Darren Monaghan, Picture Editor Holly Campbell ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Anna Quinn, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Director of Marketing Carly Bowra Subscription enquiries: Customer Service 136 116 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST) International +61 2 9692 3535 Email magshop@magshop.com.au Website www.magshop.com.au Advertising enquiries: advertising@aremedia.com.au Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. ©2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. that’s life! is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au / syndication@aremedia.com.au…

Kiri was 30 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to hospital Kiri Sheehan, 29, North Perth, WA Rubbing my hand across my tummy, my eyes suddenly flicked open. At 30 weeks pregnant with my daughter Luna in August 2024, I’d been admitted to hospital after coming down with the flu. But instead of feeling my blooming belly, my bump was gone… Where’s my baby? I panicked. My hubby Scott, then 29, was holding my hand. ‘I thought I’d lost you,’ he said. Confused, I felt like I’d only been out for a matter of minutes. But, as Scott explained, I’d been in a coma for seven days. I was in utter shock. It was the longest I’d been away from my kids, Khadus, then nine, Loki, six, and Ivar, five.…

FAST FOOD FORTUNE A hardworking teen went viral on social media for turning up to serve burgers on the night of his high-school graduation. While his friends were all out celebrating, Mykale Baker heard that the drive-through he worked at in Georgia, US, was getting busy, so turned up to work still in his graduation gown. His dedication stunned customer Maria Mendoza, who started a fundraiser for Mykale to help pay for his university education. ‘He was so kind, so polite,’ she told 11 Alive News. ‘His dedication and quiet strength really moved me.’ Incredibly, Maria has now managed to raise more than $300,000 in donations for Mykale from strangers who admired his work ethic. Rainbow JOY Social media star Kristina Elle, 29, certainly knows how to brighten people’s days!…

ITALIAN BACON AND TOMATO PIE SERVES 6 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 15 MINS 75g butter, softened 250g bacon rashers, trimmed, chopped 1 onion, finely chopped 250g punnet cherry tomatoes, halved 12 large, square slices white sandwich bread 4 eggs ¾ cup milk ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley 2 tsp dried Italian herbs ¾ cup finely grated parmesan 1 Melt 25g butter in a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat until bubbling. Add bacon and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add tomatoes. Cook, stirring occasionally, for a further 2 mins, or until tomatoes are warm. Transfer to a bowl. Cool slightly. 2 Meanwhile, cut crusts from bread. Cut five slices into 4cm pieces. Reserve. Spread one side of remaining slices with remaining butter. 3 Line…

The way we eat has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. When I was a kid everything was prepared from scratch, and if Mum didn’t want to cook we’d go to the local RSL for a roast dinner. Since then restaurants and fast food outlets have popped up everywhere. And now, many restaurants are even closing their dining rooms and opening drive through lanes instead. Time-saving gadgets and gizmos are in high demand for households too, like the Ninja Slushie machine that had a waitlist of 50,000 people – despite the almost $500 price tag! When it comes to food, we want speed and convenience, and we often pay big for it. Meanwhile, our grandparents and great-grandparents saved money by doing things themselves. With the current cost of living…

Everything changed in an instant for little Harper Katrina, 46, Craigieburn, Vic Waking up with a start, I heard my girl, Harper, then six, calling me from the bathroom. ‘My left hip is really sore,’ she cried, as I padded out to see her. ‘You’ll be okay. Let’s get you back to bed – it’s the middle of the night,’ I said. In the morning, Harper was still in pain and unable to bear weight on her left foot. She was super lethargic, so I helped her to the couch where she stayed for the day watching television. Just the day before, Harper had spent hours playing basketball with her teammates. It was hard to fathom how much had changed so quickly. ‘It’s not like her. She’s usually full of…