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I love reading my horoscope and it’s often the first page I turn to in the mag, so I was particularly excited about this issue, because our award-winning astrologer, Yasmin, agreed to write an extra special piece for us – Your mid-year stars – focusing on all things love, luck and money for the rest of the year. Of course, I devoured mine, which seem spookily accurate with what’s going on with an ex at the moment! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Don’t forget to cut yours out and stick it on the fridge, so you can keep an eye on what Yasmin said on your Power Dates, plus when Mercury will be in retrograde and you can take extra care with communication! Make sure you…

So here we are, poised at the second half of the year. There is so much going on astrologically between July to December that it seems like a very good time to do a check-in. As Pluto moves into Capricorn on September 2, it’s the last chance to clear out work issues and to detox wherever possible. The Full Moon eclipse in Pisces on September 18 is time for some radical forgiveness, which will change your life! The New Moon eclipse in Libra on October 2 is a new start for lovers (and ex lovers) all over the world. And when Jupiter aligns with Chiron on November 2, be one of those people who decides to heal an emotional upset. A new cycle is starting for the world when Pluto…

I was thrilled to be Andrew’s wife, until I made a shocking discovery… Michelle Agbulos, 48. Wearing an ivory strapless gown with layers of lace, I walked through the conservatory filled with exotic plants until I reached my groom, Andrew’s, side. He looked a little surprised to see me. “I was scared you wouldn’t turn up,” he said. I thought it was an odd thing to say but as we made our vows it was forgotten. I immersed myself in our $57,000 day and loved every moment. It was 2008, and at 32, I’d been with Andrew, 29, for the last six years. We’d met while working at the same fashion company. He was handsome and charming, and my family adored him. So, I was overjoyed to become his wife.…

Flamenco eggs SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 25 MINS 2 tbsp olive oil 1 each red, yellow, green capsicum, seeded, diced 1 chorizo sausage, finely diced 1 red onion, finely diced 2 tsp smoked paprika 2 x 400g cans diced tomatoes 4 eggs  4 slices sourdough bread Finely chopped parsley, to serve 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. In a heavy-based ovenproof frying pan, heat half the oil on medium. Sauté capsicums 4-5 mins until tender. Transfer to a plate.  2 In same pan, cook chorizo and onion 3-4 mins, stirring, until golden. Mix in paprika, cook 1 min. Add tomatoes, bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring, 4-5 mins, until thickened. Season. Return capsicum to mixture.  3 Create four indents in tomato mixture. Carefully crack an egg into each.…

Take 5 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 in whole or part without prior written permission. Take5 is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use…

After cancer, I chose to embrace my new look Emma Baillie, 31, Sydney, NSW. My partner and I lay on the couch enjoying a moment’s rest from our hectic lives. It was April 2023, and Jack, 26, was busy with his buyer’s agency in Sydney while I ran a children’s party business in Newcastle. Most weekends, I’d put my long locks to good use and dress as Elsa from Frozen, performing to an audience of preschoolers. So, time off relaxing with Jack was precious. As we chatted away, I mindlessly ran my hands over my body. Suddenly, I felt a lump in my right breast. “Have a feel of this,” I said, directing his hand. “You should get that checked,” Jack said sternly. In the six years we’d been together,…

My hubby and I got hitched all over again for some very special guests Tina Lawton, 41. At the care home where I worked, one of the elderly residents waved me over. “Have you found one yet?” Betty* asked. “Actually, I have,” I grinned back at her. Betty had been at the care home since before I’d joined as a student nurse, at 24. Now aged 31, I’d been the manager for two years. I saw to the residents’ problems, and had a good relationship with them, too. Knowing I’d got divorced a few years earlier, Betty often checked in to see if I’d found a boyfriend. “His name’s Alan,” I said. “I’m so happy for you,” she said, beaming. It was January 2014, and I’d been on the verge…

Building sandcastles in my retirement keeps me sane! Ian Zulic, 64, Moolap, Vic. Creating a mound of compacted sand, I stood back and eyed it off. “I wonder…” I mumbled, picking up a stick. Scraping and patting, I worked away at it while my two young boys watched on. It was 1999, and my wife and I had taken them to the Gold Coast for a holiday. After a few hours on the beach, I managed to sculpt a dragon in the sand. It was 2m long and about 50cm high. “Wow, that’s incredible,” a stranger said. “Did you make that?” asked another. It drew a crowd, with people stopping to take photos of it. I’d always been creative. I worked in the steel industry and in my lunch break…

Pepper steak & mushroom pasta SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 35 MINS 400g fettuccine 250g packet zucchini noodles 450g rump steak 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 300g button mushrooms, sliced 1 brown onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ cup white wine ½ cup chicken stock 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp peppercorns in brine, drained 1⁄3 cup cooking cream 2 tbsp chopped parsley Finely grated parmesan, to serve 1 Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil. Add pasta and cook using packet directions until al dente, adding zucchini noodles in final 30 secs. Reserve¼ cup water, then drain. 2 Heat a large frying pan or skillet over high heat. Rub steak with 1 tbsp oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook 2-3 mins each…

GEMINI May 22–June 21 It helps a lot to boost your confidence every now and then. When you do, it is easier to attract all the things you desire into your life. Love, money, joy – your options are limitless now. When you feel like you can’t, you can! ★ You have so much to be excited about. VIRGO Aug 24–Sept 23 Each one of us goes through our seasons to shine. Right now, it’s your friends, groups and communities that are set to light up. Extend yourself among your personal and professional circles. ★ Whom you know holds the secret to your success. SAGITTARIUS Nov 23– Dec 22 Turning your energy in and figuring things out is sometimes required. Whether it’s an emotional or financial issue, or both –…

Cup of insults My local cafe takes your name when you place an order so they can call out to you when it’s ready. I didn’t realise that my order of a small flat white would be considered such an inconvenience! Hazel Johnson, Guildford, WA. WE PAY $100 FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED No regrets Rachel’s Editor’s letter in issue 15 about how it’s a privilege to have a birthday each year is exactly why our family always says, “I love you”. When I was 15, my father went to work one morning and suffered a fatal heart attack. The last words we said to each other as he walked out the door were, “I love you” and it’s brought me a lot of comfort over the years. My husband didn’t…

Part of my ear was gone but my boyfriend claimed he’d been asleep! Louise Campbell, 39. I clinked glasses with my date and smiled. “I really like you, James,” I confessed. “I really like you, too,” he replied, grinning. I’d met James, 32, two days earlier on Tinder. He was charming, attractive and I could see myself falling for him. Then, James leaned across the table at our local pub and had his own confession. “I want to be up front about something…” he said. “I’ve not long been released from prison.” I listened as James told me about the firearms charge he’d been convicted of. “It wasn’t even a gun, it was a taser and I didn’t use it,” he insisted. It was unexpected, but I was flattered by…

From mashed potatoes to warming bowls of delicious pasta, winter is the perfect time to enjoy anything starchy, bready or grainy. However, enjoying carbs can leave you wondering if you’re overindulging. “One of the most common misconceptions about carbohydrates is that they lead to weight gain,” nutritionist and lead recipe developer for Equalution, Greer Calabro says. However, “Low-carb diets, while having evidence of short-term weight loss, are no more effective than a traditional caloric restriction.” In fact, Greer explains carbohydrates aren’t the enemy, they’re actually our best friend – especially in winter. WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT? Greer says carbohydrates are the easiest form of fuel for our body to access – not just during the cooler months, but the whole year round. “Consuming carbohydrates daily not only helps with energy…

Sticky date slice SERVES 12 PREP 15 MINS COOK 35 MINS Melted butter, to grease 250g pitted dates, chopped 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 cup boiling water 125g butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract  2 eggs  1¾ cups self-raising flour Whipped cream, to serve TOFFEE SAUCE  1 cup brown sugar  300ml thickened cream  ½ tsp vanilla extract  60g butter 1 Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 30 x 20cm slice tin with melted butter. Line with baking paper. Put dates and bicarb soda in a medium bowl. Pour over boiling water. Stand 10 mins or until dates are softened. 2 Put butter, brown sugar and vanilla in small bowl of electric mixer. Beat, using paddle attachment, until light and creamy. Add eggs, 1 at…