Table of contents for TAK2608 in Take 5

I love a bit of ‘face fuzz’. My dad’s sported a moustache since I was born and I probably wouldn’t recognise him without it. I’ve also come to enjoy how men experiment with their facial hair (while women will spend a lot of time and money getting rid of it!). Merv Hughes, Charlie Chaplin and Kenny Rogers knew what they were doing! I loved reading Gary’s story on page 65. He’s got ‘big beard energy’ and it’s all for a great cause – supporting men’s health initiatives. What a legend! Speaking of fan favourites be sure to check out our Mexican cooking section from page 57 for new ways to add some excitement to the usual faves. The seared steak and spiced veg chips with chilli pepita pesto is calling…

I sat nervously in the doctor’s office as he flicked through my blood test results. “Nothing appears to be wrong,” he said. “You probably have low energy because you’re eating too much sugar.” I left feeling frustrated and defeated. It was 1999. I was 26 and I’d struggled with health issues for as long as I could remember. Growing up on a farm, my childhood was marked by constant trips to the doctor for colds, flus and tonsillitis. My dental health was also quite poor. My gums bled easily, and I needed filling after filling. My parents were constantly worried, frustrated the medical system couldn’t give them any answers. As an adult, things hadn’t improved. I was forever catching viruses, my iron levels were low, and I felt permanently exhausted.…

On eBay, if there’s something you want to buy, put it in your cart but don’t buy it. A day or so later, you’ll probably get offered a discounted price. Kelly Sharma, Keilor, Vic. Every week I challenge myself to have as many ‘no spend’ days as I can, to save money! Sue Fisher, Kalamunda, WA. I found the easiest way to apply sunscreen to little kids is to use a tanning mitt. Lindsay O’Connell, Gisborne, Vic. If your pans are still feeling greasy after being washed, soak them in water and baking soda. Polly Jankovic, West Auckland, NZ. Leftover pizza tastes so much better if you reheat it in the airfryer instead of the microwave. Steph Black, Boondall, Qld. I bought a small roller cart that I filled with…

Staring up at the ceiling in bed, I instinctively wrapped my arms around my baby bump, shielding the tiny life growing inside me. “What if it happens again?” I whispered. My partner, Willem, 40, lay beside me. He pulled me into him, his warmth instantly calming my racing heart. “It won’t,” he said. “This baby is going to be fine.” It was 2024, and Willem and I had been together for four years. He adored my two sons, aged nine and 13, from a previous relationship, and together we shared a little girl, Shylo, three. When I fell pregnant again, I was over the moon. We’d always talked about having one more baby to complete our family. But joy turned to devastation when I miscarried at 10 weeks. Now, a…

Frosted passionfruit buttercake SERVES 8-10 PREP 25 MINS COOK 50 MINS 200g butter, softened ¾ cup caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 3 eggs 1¾ cups self-raising flour ½ cup milk ¼ cup fresh passionfruit pulp (see tip), plus extra to decorate FROSTING 2 cups icing sugar mixture 50g butter, melted 2 tbsp milk 1 Grease a 20cm round cake pan. Line base and side with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above pan edge. 2 Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in small bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined. Transfer to a large bowl. 3 Add sifted flour, milk and passionfruit in two batches. Stir until smooth. Spoon into prepared pan. Smooth over top. 4…

Lacing up my knee-high boots, I was buzzing with excitement. I’d just turned eight and was obsessed with the fashion TV show Project Runway. It inspired me to start experimenting with fashion. The boots I’d requested for my birthday, along with a ruffled top and a bright-coloured blazer. I look cool! I thought, assembling my new outfit in the mirror. My school didn’t require uniforms, so I headed off in my flash new get-up. Strutting through the school gates, I couldn’t wait for my friends to see me. But as I reached them, they burst out laughing. I made a dress from a bedsheet! “You look like a witch,” one cackled. “Why aren’t you wearing normal clothes?” Tears stung my eyes. On my way home that arvo, I reassessed my…

With a simple click on my mobile phone, everything suddenly became very official. “No going back now,” I joked to my fella, Steve. We’d just gone Instagram official. It was 2019, and Steve and I had known each other for years. He’d served in the army alongside my best friend’s ex. A few months earlier, he’d asked me out for a coffee – the first time we’d ever spent time alone together. The conversation flowed easily, and it quickly became clear we had loads in common. As well as being devoted parents – Steve had a daughter and I had a son – we were both adventurous types who loved camping and hiking. A couple of hours later, I scrolled through the comments on the Instagram post and froze. Steve…

Crescent bag crush An oversized tote will never go out of style, but sometimes you need something a little more refined. Enter: the crescent bag, which never fully left the zeitgeist, but is back in a big way for 2026. Skinny-mini belts The revival of ’90s wide belts has passed: it’s time for skinny belts to make their return (again!). Pair with your favourite wide-leg pants for chic elegance, or wear over a blazer for a sexy, structured look. PRICES ARE IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS. PLEASE CONFIRM PRICES WITH LOCAL RETAILERS. STOCKISTS ALL THE WAYS TO SAY BESPOKEHEARTS.COM.AU; BARCS DAVIDJONES.COM; BELLE & BLOOM THEICONIC.COM.AU: BIG W BIGW.COM.AU; DAZIE THEICONIC. COM.AU; ERSTWILDER ERSTWILDER.COM; FOREVER NEW THEICONIC.COM.AU; KMART KMART.COM.AU; LOVISA LOVISA.COM.AU; M.N.G THEICONIC.COM.AU; NEXT NEXT.COM.AU; NOVO NOVOSHOES.COM.AU; RAVELLA THEICONIC.COM.AU; TARGET TARGET.COM.AU Return of…

Staring out the classroom window, I watched the other kids laughing as they had fun in the playground. One of my classmates noticed me sitting alone and came running inside. “Why don’t you come and play with us?” he asked brightly. “I can’t,” I said quietly. “My body won’t let me.” It was 2006, and I was six years old. I’d been born prematurely with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. It meant I couldn’t stand up independently, had limited movement in my left hand, and relied on an electric wheelchair to get around. My speech was never affected, but my body told a different story. The other kids didn’t bully me, but they didn’t quite know how to connect with someone like me either. I was often left on the sidelines,…

In early December 2020, winter had settled over Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, where 26-year-old Erica Gene Shultz lived. Erica’s life was simple. She worked, lived independently but close to her family, and spent time online chatting to people she hoped might become friends. Those who knew her described her as kind-hearted and trusting – someone who believed the best in people. Erica was autistic and functioned at the level of a young teenager, which meant she sometimes struggled to read people’s intentions. She also lived with diabetes and relied on daily medication. In early December, Erica began talking online with someone new. She used several social and dating apps, including MeetMe, Skout and Facebook, and often chatted to people she met there. Her sister, Emily Corbin, had warned her to be careful…

Salmon skewers with pesto dressing SERVES 4 PREP 15 MINS COOK 10 MINS 700g piece salmon, skin off 12 bamboo skewers ¼ cup almond dukkah Mixed salad leaves, to serve PESTO DRESSING 1 cup firmly packed, fresh basil leaves, plus extra to serve 1 clove garlic, chopped ¼ cup olive oil 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted 150g Danish feta, crumbled 1 PESTO DRESSING Place basil, garlic, oil, juice, pine nuts and 50g of the feta in a blender with 1 tbsp water. Blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. 2 Cut salmon lengthways into 3cm strips, then cut into 3cm cubes. Thread onto skewers. Sprinkle over dukkah. 3 Heat an oiled barbecue grill plate over a medium heat. Add salmon. Cook, turning for about…

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Acting Editor Kim Bonett, Acting Deputy Editor Natasha Todd, Art Director Ninian Power, Picture Editor Vanessa Mckenzie 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. ©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 of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au /…

My little brother John looked impressed as I added the final branch to the roof of the cubby house I’d built for us. “What do you think?” I asked. “I love it, Sandra!” he said, beaming. Growing up in the early 1970s, John and I were inseparable. I was four years older and fiercely protective. When he started school, I’d walk him into the playground with my arm around his shoulders. “If you have any problems, you come to me,” I told him. “I’ll look after you.” As we grew older, I worried about him. John was gentle, funny and kind, with a heart of gold. He hated confrontation and avoided arguments, even when people had treated him unfairly. I knew there were some who might take advantage of that.…

Balancing on my horse, I fired off an arrow. Instead of looking to see if I’d hit the target, I watched my horse’s reaction. Typically, horses bolt at unusual sounds, but Rhani, my five-year-old bay-coloured mare, didn’t flinch. “Well done, girl,” I said proudly. It was 2015 and I’d moved from Melbourne with Rhani to the Lockyer Valley, Qld, for my job as an animal physio. I’d been riding since I was six and was looking for a local riding club when I stumbled on a place that offered horse archery. The niche sport, as I learned, was pioneered by the Assyrian army in the 7th century BC as a formidable form of ancient warfare. Modern horse archery looks much the same, but with riders shooting at targets instead…

Crispy coconut fish tacos with pineapple salsa SERVES 4 PREP 25 MINS COOK 10 MINS 11⁄3 cups self-raising flour 1 cup Mexican-style beer Vegetable oil, for deep-frying 500g firm white fish fillets, 1.5cm fingers 1 cup panko breadcrumbs ¾ cup shredded coconut ¾ cup Greek-style yoghurt 1 tbsp lime juice 1 tsp cayenne pepper 12 taco shells, warmed 2 cups shredded lettuce PINEAPPLE SALSA ½ small pineapple, peeled, finely chopped 1 Lebanese cucumber, finely chopped ½ small red onion, thinly sliced 1 tbsp lime juice 1 Sift 1 cup flour into a bowl. Whisk in beer. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 2 In a large saucepan, heat oil on high (170ºC) until a little flour sizzles when added. 3 Dust fish pieces in remaining flour,…

MARCH 2-8 PISCES Feb 20–Mar 20 Life looks so much different now than it did just a few weeks ago. Sure, there is a little bit of confusion to sort through now. It’s also an opportunity to get to know yourself better and understand what makes you tick. ★ The answers you are looking for will soon arrive! ARIES Mar 21–Apr 20 For you right now, there is never a dull moment. With such big changes happening for you, you’re going to have to catch your breath a bit. Fortunately, your patron planet moves into your Hidden Zone, so you can chill out. ★ Breathwork and meditation may be required! TAURUS Apr 21–May 21 If life feels a little bit topsy-turvy right now, don’t be too alarmed. The point is,…