Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make their first public appearance as a couple

Prince Harry and his girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle, have made their first public appearance together as a couple. The Invictus Games is an international paralympic-style multi-sport event, created by Prince Harry, in which veterans take part in sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing.

Meghan, who is best known for her role in Suits, recently opened up about her relationship with Harry in a Vanity Fair interview. She said, ‘I can tell you that at the end of the day I think it’s really simple. We’re a couple. We’re in love. I’m sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time.’

From: Good Housekeeping UK

PHOTOS: Gallo Images/Getty Images

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Impress your guests with a brunch bonanza!

Make a brunch buffet in pastels

1. Trawl your cupboards for all your pastel tableware – from vases to jugs and plates. You could even paint old jars using leftover paint–sample pots.

2. Hang a selection of overlapping flower garlands on the wall and create a table trim by slicing a length of crepe paper into tassels.

3. No cake stand? Create your own using upended bowls and two or three plates in varying sizes.

Food and drink shortcuts

Save yourself time and hassle:

1. Add chopped fruit, nuts, chocolate and a healthy sprinkle of cinnamon to your favourite Sasko Quick Treats muffin mix. Make and freeze for future brunch platters.

2. Make a jug of iced rooibos tea with lemon and refrigerate overnight for a refreshing cold-drink option.

3. Tap into the naked cake trend by sandwiching a plain shop-bought sponge cake with cream and dusting with icing sugar – no icing to mix or spread!

Essentials for a beautiful brunch table

Oval wooden tray

R239 (was R339)*, Yuppiechef.com

Footed cake stand

R660*, Le Creuset

Help yourself

Take the pressure off yourself by setting out as many DIY options as possible:

1. A bagel bar with sweet and savoury bagels, and a variety of fillings and toppings is easy and delicious.

2. A DIY Bloody Mary bar always goes down a treat. You’ll need jugs of tomato juice, Vodka and all the trimmings to make a killer cocktail!

3. Make a hotel–style fruit–salad station – fill various bowls with fresh, chopped fruit and have a selection of toppings, yoghurts, fruit syrups, honey and cereals on hand.

Floral tip

Blooming beautiful takeaway cones:

1. You’ll need sugar cones, greaseproof paper, fresh flowers and vases.

2. Line a selection of cones with greaseproof paper rounds; set out a collection of vases and jars filled with flowers for people to pick and choose their blooms.

3. When it’s time to leave, invite your guests to build a flower cone by choosing flowers they like and popping them into a takeaway cone.

PHOTO: iStock/Rawpixel

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Ellen puts herself in Taylor Swift’s video – and it’s hilarious!

If you’ve seen Taylor Swift’s music video for her latest big hit, Look What You Made Me Do, you must watch this.

It turns out that our October cover star, Ellen DeGeneres, made an appearance in the ‘original’ music video. In the lead-up to the preview of this never-before-seen-footage, Ellen tells us that she wants to ‘talk about a friend of mine … her name is Taylor Swift’, and how good her new music video is, but points out that ‘it could have been better’.

Read: 16 things you’ll know if you’ve had the same best friends since school

As she continues to praise Taylor and her music video’s success – it’s had more than 460-million views since it premiered at the MTV VMAs last month – Ellen’s Life Rules as discussed in the new issue of Good Housekeeping come to mind. Especially when you consider her reasons for creating the parody. Ellen is encouraging all of those who have watched Taylor’s actual music video to donate just $1 (that’s R13,46) to the Hand in Hand hurricane-relief efforts. Kind Lesson #1 (Just Be Nice) ring any bells?

Read: Kindness Makes you Beautiful

Ellen further explains that being part of Tay-Tay’s squad, she suspects that she was cut out of the original video because Taylor is sometimes threatened by her. Fair enough, this is Ellen we’re talking about! It can definitely be confirmed that lesson #4 (Find a Way to Forgive) is showcased here, since it doesn’t seem as though there is any ‘Bad Blood’ between the two of them.

Watch the spoof video below. And to read Ellen’s Kindness Rules, see our October issue. You can buy a digital
copy here.

  

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13 Genius tricks that’ll make your clothes last much longer

If you’ve ever thrown out a favorite sweater — whether it was missing two buttons, had a hole in the corner or faded over time — we have some advice for you: Follow these tips to help your go-to items last way, way longer.

Stop a button from unraveling

If you don’t have time to re-sew a button onto your blouse, head to your bathroom and grab your clear nail polish. Paint over the loose button thread to temporarily stop it from unraveling.

Stop a run with polish

Another genius use for clear nail polish: At the first sign of a tear in your tights, run the brush of your polish on top. This will prevent the run from getting bigger or longer.

Unstick a zipper with soap

You can use a bar of soap to get yourself out of a jacket with a stuck zipper or make an item you avoid wearing, due to a terrible zipper, much more wearable.

Clean suede shoes with a nail file

Just buff stubborn dirt right out. Or, if it’s really matted, hold the shoe about 30 cm above the spout of a steaming kettle for a few seconds, then brush up the nap.

Scrub water stains with vinegar

You can remove water stains from leather boots with a soft toothbrush and vinegar. This is especially effective during the winter, when your shoes are covered in salt lines.

Protect clothes with a pillow case

When storing coats or special-occasion clothes, cover each item with an old pillow case. The blogger behind Bumblebee Linens cut a hole in the closed end to slip over a hanger.

Fix a scuff on patent leather

Even though patent leather is a popular pump material, it’s prone to dark, distracting scuffs. All you have to do is rub a cotton swab with petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) on top to remove the mark.

Fix bra underwire

If you think the time to chuck your favourite bra is when the underwire starts poking through and hurting you (ouch!), we have wonderful news; you can fix this with a patch of adhesive moleskin or material plaster.

Stack bras inside of each other

Carelessly stuffing these undergarments into a drawer will bend the cups out of shape over time. Instead, stack them inside of each other to keep them tidy and help them last longer.

Air dry workout clothes

Throwing your sweaty garments into the laundry hamper causes smelly mildew. So before tossing them into your dirty clothes pile, hang them up until they’re dry.

Hang pants the right way

Instead of stuffing pants into a drawer, hang them onto a hanger to prevent wrinkles and the need to iron or steam your pants on the regular (which will add serious wear over time).

Help boots keep their shape

Keep your boots standing tall (even in the summer season) with DIY boot stuffers. Use pool noodles or toilet rolls. You can also stuff fabric covers with natural cotton and add some pom-poms at the top as a personal touch.  

Use felt hangers

Wire hangers aren’t supportive enough for heavier fabrics and will warp the shape of your clothes over time. Invest in felt hangers instead, which won’t leave points in the shoulders of your shirts and can better grip thin, silky fabrics.

From: goodhousekeeping.com

Photo: iStock/Sensay

ALSO READ:

 8 laundry mistakes that could be ruining your clothes

5 Tips to Make your Clothes Last Longer

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12 Surprising things that happen when you’re planning your wedding

So you’re engaged – yay! While planning your wedding is certainly an exciting time of life, it can also be a bit of a rollercoaster, to say the least.

Here are some of the more surprising things to expect in the build up to your nuptials…

1. You learn that EVERYONE has an opinion on how your Big Day should be

Thought this day was all about you? Think again – everyone from your mom to your distant aunty will have an opinion about what the day should involve, whether it’s insisting that ‘you simply must’ wear a veil, or friends saying they’d be disappointed if you don’t have a free bar.

2. You realise just how many people you know

‘Let’s keep it small and simple’ you say, as you start writing your guest list. Half an hour later, you suddenly realise that with family, home friends, uni mates, colleagues and so on you could basically end up inviting half the SA population. And let’s not even get started on plus ones…

3. You discover that everything costs basically double what you had assumed

The general rule of thumb when it comes to wedding costs? Imagine how much you think each aspect might cost, and then add A THOUSAND RAND, OR TEN.

4. You realise what your priorities actually are

When you start planning a wedding, your Pinterest boards are full of swanky video booths, floral wall art and incredible crafted decorations.

As time goes on and money dwindles, you realise that actually all you care about is the booze/entertainment/food/dress (delete as appropriate).

5. You make a promise to yourself never to reply late to a wedding invite again

Previously, when you received a wedding invite, you thought ‘oh how lovely’ and then left it on the side to be dealt with at a future date, probably way past the requested RSVP.

Now you’re the one waiting for responses, you realise what a bad person you were before, and swear to never EVER leave it more than one week before RSVPing again.

6. You find yourself having to make decisions about things you’ve literally never considered before

Is it ok to reply to the question ‘What kind of lace do you want the bouquets tied with?’ with the answer ‘I really, really don’t care’?

7. You will probably have an argument with one of your nearest and dearest, and then feel really bad about it

Obviously, getting married is wonderful, but the planning process can be fraught, particularly when there are a lot of opinions involved (which there will be). Most brides will have at least one blow-up during the wedding prep, but don’t worry – you’ll quickly put it all behind you.

8. People ask you some really annoying questions

There’s something about a wedding that makes people come over all helpless, and unfortunately as the bride, you seem to bear the brunt of it.

From endless questions about taxis (have these people never organised their own transport?) to ‘tiny favours’ people ask which are actually a massive great headache, expect to be bombarded via email, Whatsapp and text message…

9. Your idea of how much food people need in a day gets completely out of hand

‘Are we sure that eight canapes, a three-course meal, cake and a full buffet in the evening will keep people full for the evening?’

10. You’ll discover things about your figure you never knew before

An interesting aspect of wedding dress shopping is having your body quite openly analysed by the shop assistants.

Sure, it’s always great to know that you have lovely collarbones, but you could probably do without being told that your bum is ‘so much bigger than average’.

11. You rehearse some pretty weird stuff with your fiancé

From shuffling round your front room to practise a first dance, to trying to work out how you can kiss at the altar in a way that looks romantic but not gross, you find yourself in some pretty interesting situations.

12. You realise that, ultimately, it will be a great day whatever happens

Yes, planning the wedding can be stressful, but really what this is about is making a commitment to the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and that is way more important than having the perfect Instagram-worthy table centrepiece now, isn’t it?

From: Good Housekeeping UK

Photo: iStock/digitalskillet

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Monthly column: Changing perspective

Two weeks ago, while movers carried two new wardrobes into my house, somebody walked up my staircase, into my lounge and took off with my handbag and two mobile phones. The robbery must have happened in less than a minute – the thief was professional and quick – and I think many of us South Africans can identify with the sick, sinking feeling you get when you realise the consequences of briefly having let your guard down. For many women, our handbags and our phones are veritable extensions of our souls. I did everything on my phone, and my handbag (I believed) contained my entire life. So it was the strangest feeling getting into my car to fetch the kids with only my keys; stopping at a traffic light and not reaching over to send a quick WhatsApp; not scrolling through Twitter while I waited outside Kumon.

I considered the things I had lost – sunglasses I liked, some nice makeup, my wallet containing every card and important phone number in existence – and the time and effort it would take to replace things like my bank card and driver’s licence, and I felt angry and more than a little violated. My husband was working overseas, so there went our connection. There went my favourite apps, two years of notes, SMSs from my dad, who died earlier this year, and all my music. So I wrote a small rant on Facebook sharing my woes and got the requisite sympathy and also a comment by a New Yorker friend who said – much to my deep annoyance – ‘They needed those things more than you. Don’t be attached!’ Once I had finished swearing at him in my head I found myself mulling over his words.

Related: Your cellphone could be 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat

While it wasn’t the most sensitive thing to say under the circumstances, I had to admit he was right. I was attached to my phone and my handbag to the point of being neurotic and now they were gone and, guess what? I didn’t die. While our phones are immensely useful, when we start believing they’re indispensable to our existence they assume a mastery over our lives. And in a way I could never have anticipated, when I walked back into my house later that day I felt oddly liberated. I couldn’t answer my messages; I couldn’t Instagram my dinner. And the world didn’t implode as a result.

Over the next few days, as I embarked on the necessary administrative chores, it struck me that, rather than resentment at the queues and wasted time, there was a surprising sense of gratitude that I could just get into my car and drive to where I needed to be; that people were helpful and kind; that I could borrow my 10-year-old’s ancient little phone and be in touch with the loved ones who matter. I could get the apps and the music back. I could claim from insurance and buy a better phone. I didn’t need old text messages to remember my darling dad. I felt lucky that they had taken things I could easily replace. And – while I’m certain the attachment malaise many of us suffer from will return once I have everything back again – the incident did force me to recognise my fixation with ‘things’.

Related: 5 things to do before giving your child a smartphone

And not only an attachment to objects, but to outcomes. Our ability to control outcomes somewhat through our devices leads to the erroneous belief that we are in control of the world – and that’s a dangerous assumption to make. I’m particularly bad at letting things be and ‘going with the flow’. I need to know exactly what restaurant we’ll be eating at and what they have on the menu, and I’ll change tables three times until it’s ‘right’. It’s a sickness that thrives in our technology-driven society. I still haven’t managed to replace my phone. It’s irritating and very good for me. I don’t know what everyone is doing every minute of every day. I can’t broadcast my every thought, post endless photos on Instagram and gossip mindlessly with my best friend when I should be working. Maybe this was a lesson for me in disengaging and remembering what’s important. I really hope I learnt from it.

Susan Hayden is the voice behind the popular blog Disco Pants & A Mountain

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Your horoscope October 2017

Libra (24 Sept – 23 Oct)

Being well prepared is the key to success. Do your groundwork and don’t get caught up in others’ agendas. From the 15th, you enter an outgoing phase that favours building bridges of connection.

SELF-CARE: Me-time is essential to bring you back to yourself.

PERSONALITY: The Libra woman is intelligent, charming and sociable. Gifted at finding common ground with others, she uses tact to smooth over differences. A considerate partner and thoughtful parent, she brings a light touch to all her relationships.

STRENGTH: She is skilled at finding win-win solutions that make all concerned happy.

BLIND SPOT: She often compares herself negatively with others and needs to practise self-appreciation.

INSPIRATION FOR THE YEAR: When opportunities to use your gifts appear, take the leap.

GEMSTONES: Diamond and opal.

Scorpio (24 Oct – 22 Nov)

Hard work will bring results, so push through obstacles. Don’t be too proud to ask for help along the way. Around the 17th, think positively and follow up on intriguing opportunities.

Self-care: Seek out the company of friends who help you lighten up.

Sagittarius (23 Nov – 22 Dec)

You can get ahead in your career by being proactive and willing to take on extra responsibility. Socially, there are opportunities to meet like-minded people.

Self-care: Take time out to slow down and tune in to your inner source of guidance.

Capricorn (23 Dec – 20 Jan)

A parent is going through a tricky patch. Moderate your usual direct approach with a dash of diplomacy. Before finalising travel arrangements, check the small print.

Self-care: Avoid pushing yourself too hard. You need some relaxing downtime.

Aquarius (21 Jan – 19 Feb)

Emotions aren’t logical and can’t be rationalised away. However, they can give you clues to what needs healing. When discussing practical decisions with your partner, keep it simple.

Self-care: Make the time to read something every day that inspires you.

Pisces (20 Feb – 20 Mar)

Joint projects will work out well, especially when you link up with someone who is a good problem-solver. You and your partner need quiet time to unwind together.

Self-care: You can’t always put your feelings into words, but you can paint, dance or sing them.

Aries (21 Mar – 20 Apr)

Linking up with others initially slows you down at work, but is more effective than going it alone. In your personal life, before jumping to conclusions, put yourself in the other person’s shoes.

Self-care: Have fun with a playful creative outlet.

Taurus (21 Apr – 21 May)

Numerous little tasks are calling for your attention. Persist and you’ll get through them by mid month. Around the 19th, use your calming influence to defuse tension in the office and don’t take sides.

Self-care: Treat yourself to some pretty spring accessories this month.

Gemini (22 May – 21 Jun)

Up until the 16th, accommodating others and adjusting to shifting circumstances keeps you on your toes. After that there are positive developments at work. Listen to your gut instinct and go with the flow.

Self-care: Put your mind to improving your wellbeing by eating healthily.

Cancer (22 Jun – 23 Jul)

Holding in what is bothering you will only make you crabby. It’s better to be honest and talk things through. It’s spring – time to declutter and freshen up your home.

Self-care: Although you are home-loving, getting out and about will do you good.

Leo (24 Jul – 23 Aug)

Usually you like to take the lead, but the dance of relating currently calls for compromise and tactful communication. See it as your contribution to spreading peace and harmony.

Self-care: Unwind with beautiful music and a feel-good read.

Virgo (24 Aug – 23 Sept)

For a while, it feels as though you are driving with the brakes on. Instead of getting stressed, look for the small gifts each day brings. Around the 18th, plan quality time with your partner.

Self-care: Remember that pleasure is vital for a balanced life.

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Puzzle solutions October 2017

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Click HERE for the answers of previous issues.

Did you know we have online puzzles too? You can choose between crossword puzzles, sudoku and words searches. Click HERE to start playing!

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Glass skin is the newest beauty trend you need to know about

Restaurant review: Bold flavours and an Italian flair

Armed with big appetites, we headed to a newly revamped restaurant in the trendy area of Camps Bay in Cape Town. The restaurant: Zenzero. Food: Italian. Expectations: High. 

A fun outside seating area that borders the lively main road. PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

We were greeted by the manager for the evening, who graciously showed us to our table alongside a bookshelf-lined wall. In fact, three of the four walls in this restaurant are covered from top to bottom with bookshelves that house at least a few thousand books in total. (We counted!)

The look and feel of the second-hand books are complemented by the richness and crispness of the table décor. In fact, Zenzero recently went through an extensive revamp, which was conceptualised by Soda Design in collaboration with Kove Collection MD Paul Kovensky. 

Neutral tones and warm textures abound, and custom-made light fixtures give the restaurant a unique touch of glam.

The bookshelf-lined walls give a home-away-from-home feel. PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

Time for the show to begin

Kove Collection Group Head Chef Amber Deetlefs and her team have extended the menu to feature authentically Italian breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings.

‘The updated menu reflects the inimitable spirit of the stunning location and la dolce vita – the typically Italian concept of living life to the fullest,’ says Deetlefs. ‘Flavours are still punchy and robust, ingredients are fresh and helpings are generous.’

For lunch and dinner, share a selection of antipasti (such as insalata panzanella with tomato, burrata, basil and torn bread). Mains include classic pasta dishes (from spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino to linguine alle vongole), fish (from lemon sole with herb butter, capers and anchovies to pesce fritto with pickled vegetables and squid-ink aioli), poultry (chicken saltimbocca with prosciutto and sage brown butter) and meat (slow-roast lamb shank).

To start off we ordered an Italian classic, the Sicilian arancini with Bolognese, tomato sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano, and took a dip in the ocean with calamari fritti with sea salt, black pepper, garlic and lemon.

Next it was time for the mains, and this restaurant pulled out all the stops. The first main we enjoyed was a fillet tagliata with Parmigiano-Reggiano, rocket pesto, confit tomato and an aged balsamic reduction. The fillet was cooked to perfection and the meat literally melted in our mouths. 

Fillet tagliata with Parmigiano-Reggiano, rocket pesto, confit tomato and an aged balsamic reduction. PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

The richness of the emerald-green rocket pesto forms a stark contrast to the pitch-black balsamic reduction. The latter adds a much-needed sweetness that breaks through the richness of the meat and rocket pesto. Perfection!

The second main, a succulent rib-eye with origanum, sea salt and olive oil, proved to be a firm favourite. The meat had an incredibly juicy and tender centre. The flavours came together to produce a stellar dish and there was nothing left on either plate when the dishes were removed from the table. 

Rib-eye with origanum, sea salt and olive oil. PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

Finally, we were coaxed into enjoying a sweet finale in the form of dessert. We decided to share the white chocolate cheesecake with sour cherries and vanilla ice cream. 

The creaminess of the cheesecake was balanced by the crunchiness of the crumbs, finished off with delicious cherries and smooth vanilla ice cream. A sure winner and the perfect ending to our meal.

White chocolate cheesecake with sour cherries and vanilla ice cream. PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

For next time

The only regret of the night is not having enough space to try more dishes off the menu. So the best we can do is look forward to our next visit, when we want to try the seared tuna with tomato, olive, thyme, clam belly, shallots, garlic, lemon and fennel. Just look at those colours!

Seared tuna with tomato, olive, thyme, clam belly, shallots, garlic, lemon and fennel. PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

Then, for something fresh and summery, this dessert of frozen nougat with Cointreau, fresh citrus and olive-oil sponge will hit the spot!

Frozen nougat with cointreau, fresh citrus and olive-oil sponge. PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

It’s all about the experience

A stellar menu and ideal location is one thing, but world-class service makes any restaurant stand out. And this is certainly the case at Zenzero. The person who served us, Jane, was full of smiles and had expert knowledge of the menu. An incredible talent in an equally incredible restaurant.

More about the Kove Collection: Evolution. Experience. Excellence.

The Kove Collection is synonymous with something special. Whether it’s an unforgettable meal in a sublime setting or an inspiring stay at a beautiful boutique hotel, Paul Kovensky and his teams deliver exceptional experiences that keep guests coming back for more.

COVER PHOTO: Courtesy of Zenzero

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