Table of contents for TAK2437 in Take 5

It was confession hour in the Take 5 office after we read Keshia’s story on page 8. She hid her romance with her older boyfriend from her family, even when she moved in with him! My teen indiscretions involved sneaking out when Mum and Dad thought I was in bed. Picture Editor Vanessa forged her mum’s signature on ‘sick’ notes at school. But one team member, who’ll remain nameless, revealed her brother was expelled from school but each day he’d head out in his uniform, pretending he was bound for class. When Mum and Dad went to work, he’d return to delete phone messages and destroy letters from school. It took three months before the game was up! “Mum cried for a month when she found out. She’s still mortified…

I won’t let my prosthetic leg hold me back from my dreams… Tessa Desiderio, 35. Falling over and bumping my knee, a sharp pain shot up my leg, reducing me to tears. “Here now, is the pain that bad?” my mum asked, running over to pick me up. I’d been experiencing stiffness and pain in my legs for a few weeks now and it was becoming constant. The slightest bump to my knee left me in agony. Aged 11, I loved being active, but it was becoming difficult even to walk. When my knee swelled up later, my mum Jessica, 39, took me to the GP. “It sounds like growing pains,” the doctor said dismissively. But when the pain continued, Mum took me to the hospital. “Something’s not right,” she…

Tuscan bread salad with tuna SERVES 6 PREP 10 MINS COOK 10 MINS + COOLING 1 loaf (450g) ciabatta bread, torn into 2cm pieces 6 tomatoes 425g can tuna in oil, drained, flaked 1 cup flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped 1⁄3 cup light olive oil ¼ cup red wine vinegar 5 anchovy fillets, drained, finely chopped 1 tbsp drained baby capers, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 Preheat oven to 220ºC/200ºC fan-forced. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Scatter bread over prepared tray. Bake for 10 mins or until golden and crisp. Set aside to cool. 2 Meanwhile, place tomatoes in a large heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water. Stand for 5 mins or until skin begins to lift. Drain; refresh under cold water. Peel. Cut in…

Waking up in my bed, the first thing I noticed was a splitting headache. Then suddenly, I was overcome with terror. Where are my kids? I panicked. It was January 2019 and the day before, I’d headed to my neighbour’s house for a barbie with my daughters Tessa, three, and Nina, one. I remembered enjoying a bottle or two of wine there but by 3pm, I’d blacked out and had no memory of taking the kids home. Jumping out of bed, I was relieved to find Tessa and Nina snoozing peacefully in their rooms. Pudis et exceratus eum quibern aturem This is serious now, I told myself. I’ve got to stop drinking. I’d loved alcohol since I was a teen but by the time I’d settled down with my husband,…

Becoming a gran hasn’t slowed me down! Melita Downey, 57, Benowa, Qld. I stood on the sidelines of my local BMX track with my nine-year-old brother Jay, watching the older kids race around the course and fly over jumps. “They’re so cool,” I said in awe. I wanted to be just like them. It was 1979, and I was 12. After I pestered my stepdad nonstop for a bike of my own, he finally gave in. I was stoked! “I’ll practice every single day,” I promised him. Each day after school, I was on my bike, whizzing around the track. My skills developed quickly and I soon joined in races, beating other girls my age. I had my heart set on becoming a pro racer like my hero, Bob Haro.…

Striving for perfection nearly killed me… Dominique Daye, 29, Brisbane, Qld. Standing in the doorway of my unborn child’s nursery, I smiled. “I’m ready for this,” I said to my partner Daniel. It was 2020 and I was in the final stages of pregnancy with our first child, a little boy who we’d decided to call Mannix. We’d found out the sex at my 20-week scan. I came from a family of six siblings, and my parents already had 12 grandchildren with another two, including mine, on the way. I’d become an aunty at 12, so I’d been around babies most of my life. It had taken 12 months to get pregnant, but it was smooth sailing after that. “You’re going to make a great mum,” Daniel said. I’d been…

Chocolate & cranberry cookies MAKES 20 PREP 10 MINS COOK 15 MINS 125g butter, at room temperature ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla essence ¾ cup plain flour ¾ cup self-raising flour 200g white eating chocolate, roughly chopped ½ cup macadamias, finely chopped ½ cup dried sweetened cranberries (craisins) 1 Preheat oven to 160ºC/140ºC fan-forced. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper. 2 Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in a bowl until light and creamy. Add egg and essence; beat until combined. Fold in combined flours until just combined. Stir in chocolate, macadamias and cranberries.  3 Roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls. Place on prepared trays, about 4cm apart for spreading; flatten tops slightly.  4 Bake, swapping trays halfway, for…

Take 5 NOWTOLOVE.COM. AU/TAKE5MAG TAKE5@AREMEDIA. COM.AU GPO BOX 4088, SYDNEY, NSW 2001 (02) 9282 8000 FACEBOOK.COM/ TAKESMAGAZINE @TAKE5MAGAZINE @NOWTOLOVEAU @TAKE5MAG EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Editor Rachel Williams, Deputy Editor Kim Bonett, Art Director Fiona Parsons, Picture Editor Vanessa Mckenzie, Lifestyle Director Claire Isaac ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Andrew Cook, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Head of Consumer Marketing Louise Cankett 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 Affiliate enquiries: affilliate@aremedia.com.au Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. ©2024. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced…

When my hubby flew into a rage, I didn’t expect the hamster to go flying too... Theresa Peters , 51. Pulling up outside my house, the taxi driver opened the boot so I could collect my shopping. “Someone’s been on a spending spree,” the driver chuckled. “I’ve only just moved here,” I told him. “So I’m getting the essentials in.” The driver introduced himself as Victor. “I’ll help you carry them in,” he said. I was relieved as there was no way I could carry them all myself. After that, whenever I called a local taxi, Victor always seemed to be the driver to arrive. He was friendly and charming, and I enjoyed talking to him. When he asked me out for lunch, I was happy to accept. The more…

A limiting belief is a thought that restricts your personal growth and potential. These beliefs are often subconscious and stem from experiences, conditioning, or negative self-talk, explains healer, holistic counsellor and author Rena Harvey. Limiting beliefs can manifest as doubts about your abilities, fears of failure, or assumptions that certain goals are unattainable. They hinder you from taking risks, trying new things, and achieving success. Identifying and challenging these beliefs is essential for personal development and unlocking your full potential. Some limiting beliefs you might have thought are: “I don’t deserve success.” “I always fail at everything I try.” “I’m too old/young to do that.” These beliefs can be deeply ingrained and often operate subconsciously, significantly impacting your decision-making and overall life satisfaction. To effectively eliminate limiting beliefs and enhance…

Chicken green curry SERVES 4 PREP 5 MINS + MARINATING COOK 30 MINS 8 chicken drumsticks ¼ cup Thai green curry paste 2 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, thinly sliced 2 x 270ml cans coconut milk 300g green beans ½ cup water Chilli, coriander, mint, basmati rice, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Place chicken in a shallow dish. Add half the paste, tossing to coat. Marinate 30 mins. 2 In a large frying pan, heat oil on high. Brown chicken on all sides. Transfer to a casserole dish. 3 Add onion to same pan. Sauté 2 mins. Stir in remaining paste and coconut milk. Simmer 5 mins. Pour over chicken. 4 Bake, covered, 15 mins. Stir in beans and water. Bake a further 5-10 mins until chicken…

VIRGO Aug 24 –Sept 23 This week could see you feeling weighed down by other people or by self-inflicted pressures to help others. Push on through and you’ll learn how to balance your own needs with those of others. ★Be sure to make yourself a priority, too. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 – Dec 22 The focus now should be on your working life – or whatever it is that you are “known for” among your peers. That said, there is a lot of work to be done in your personal life as well. Remember, you’ve got this. ★ Take a super mature attitude and find a work/ life balance. PISCES Feb 20 –Mar 20 Don’t worry too much if one important relationship is struggling. This too shall pass. It’s all about…