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Cooking at home is a great way to save money and eat healthily, but as the week wears on many of us simply don’t have the time. But with a little bit of planning, you can make sure you have a constant supply of DIY meals on tap. Prepping meals at home in advance offers numerous benefits, even for those with busy schedules. By dedicating time to plan and prepare your meals, you’ll actually save time during the week, making it easier to enjoy home-cooked, nutritious food without the stress of daily cooking. Save money and eat healthily Meal prepping also helps to reduce the temptation to order takeaway, saving money and promoting healthier eating. It also allows for better portion control, reducing food waste and encouraging mindful eating. Ultimately,…

I had brain surgery awake! Saffron Fry, 28, Woodcroft, SA. Standing in front of the stove cooking dinner, I felt my head start to swim and squeezed my eyes shut. “Careful,” a woman said. “Watch you don’t fall,” an elderly man added. I heard the voices so clearly but as I opened my eyes, I got the shock of my life. I was in the kitchen alone.Well, that was weird, I thought. It was May 2024, and I’d not had a turn like this before. When I told my fiancé Scott, 32, about it later, I assured him I was probably just dehydrated. “I didn’t drink enough water today,” I said. But a few days later, I was patting the dog when my vision blurred and the voices of…

I couldn’t believe what happened to my home Melanie Menzie, 40, Corio, Vic. I held the white plaster castings of my son’s tiny hands and feet in my hands and rubbed their curves with my thumbs. “Precious little Nathan,” I said, my eyes welling up with tears. Carefully, I placed them back into their box and then moved on to Hamish’s. In that box, I had a couple of photos of him and a teddy bear. “Sweet boy,” I whispered, before moving on to Landon’s box. These were my keepsakes from my three darling babies who never made it. I kept their boxes underneath my bed and even though they’d died many years ago, I liked to take them out and look at them. They were the most prized possessions…

A famous Japanese proverb says, ‘in Zen we don’t find the answers, we lose the questions’. Strolling around Kyoto’s 2000 temples and shrines you’ll find yourself no longer searching, but instead discovering, experiencing, feeling and absorbing. You’ll see why 17 of the city’s temples are named by UNESCO as World Heritage Cultural Sites, and are among the city’s most impressive spots. Turn your tech off and, as they also say in Zen, ‘be a witness to your own thoughts’. EIKAN-DŌ ZENRIN-JI TEMPLE Located between Nanzen-ji and the entrance to the Philosopher’s Path in the city’s scenic north-east, Eikan-d ō is the perfect addition to your Kyoto itinerary. Once a villa, it was gifted to a priest in 853 CE and began a remarkable spiritual life. As the head temple of…

Words of wisdom At his 80th birthday celebration, I asked my sprightly neighbour George what the secret to a life well lived was. “Live joyfully, eat slowly, sleep sufficiently, work industriously, and be kind. But above all else, honour and respect the women in your life. Their love and support is the Holy Grail and should be revered. Never forget that,” George said. I thought about my mother, and my wife, and their enormous capacity to love, and like George, I felt like the most blessed man alive. Selwyn Mays, Labrador, Qld. WE PAY $100 Cryptic cursive FOR EACH LETTER PRINTED I was sitting at the kitchen table writing out my shopping list in my normal cursive handwriting. My granddaughter, Rhia, seven, was next to me and was on the…

After my family was torn apart, an angel stepped in with an incredible offer Brittany Ingle, 34. My son Mason shook a couple of toy military dog tags in front of me. “Is this one cooler? Or this one?” he asked. Mason and his twin brother Xzavier were six years old. He’d been given the dog tags at a Halloween party and wanted to take them to school to show his friends. Absentmindedly, I pointed at one of them. “That one,” I said. “Come on you two, time to catch the bus,” my daughter Alivia, nine, said officiously. “We don’t want to be late for school.” I suppressed a smile. She was like a mother hen to the twins, even more than my eldest daughter Selena, 11. “Have a good…

Our boy’s good work is inspiring others Claire Osborne, 42, Canberra, ACT. The man held up his empty coffee cup. “Spare change?” he asked. “Sorry, no,” I replied truthfully, having only cards on me, and pushed my trolley into the supermarket. My son Ashton, seven, looked up at me as we browsed the aisles. “Why’s he begging?” he asked. “He’s probably hungry,” I replied. While we shopped, I explained to Ashton about homelessness. “That doesn’t sound fair,” he said, frowning. “Why don’t we buy him some bread,” I suggested, and we did. “Thanks mate,” the man grinned at Ashton when he handed it to him. Over the next couple of years, Ashton’s sense of social justice grew. My husband Chris, 41, worked for the government and Ashton often asked him…

1. MAKING WAVES Spritz on this texturising spray for effortless beach waves without having to actually hit the ocean. It’s formulated with sea salt to build texture, and a healthy dose of aloe vera for moisture. The perfect summer companion for your hair! 2. SAVE YOUR SCALP For when your hair needs a little extra TLC, this nourishing scrub removes excess sebum and product build-up for a healthy and clean canvas. Simply wet your hair, gently massage onto the scalp, rinse well and then follow up with your favourite shampoo and conditioner. 3. POOLSIDE PAL Too much time in the pool? This cleverly crafted shampoo helps to prevent chlorine damage. It’s packed full of vitamin B5 and a mix of natural ingredients to protect tresses for a stress-free swim. 4.…

There was a time when it was inconceivable that a woman would openly pay a man for sex. The notion was considered embarrassing and desperate. Thankfully, societal attitudes are changing. Today, paying a male sex worker for physical intimacy isn’t only acceptable – it’s on the rise! Many women are feeling emotionally, mentally or physically exhausted using dating apps. Online dating also comes with risks. In 2022, the Australian Institute of Criminology found three in four people using dating apps experienced some form of sexual violence. In light of this, paying for sex with a respectful man doesn’t seem so unpalatable. To help de-stigmatise this trend, Take 5 has spoken to Anna Grosman, who runs a male-only escort agency and Belinda Gavin, who regularly hires an escort as a means…

Moroccan lamb pizza SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 20 MINS 2 x 300g pizza bases with tomato paste 500g lamb mince 1 tbsp Moroccan spice mix ½ cup Greek-style yoghurt Fresh coriander leaves, to serve (optional) 1 Preheat oven to 200°C. Place pizza bases on two oiled oven trays. 2 Cook mince in a heated, oiled large frying pan over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned. Add spice mix. Cook, stirring, until fragrant. Season. Spoon over pizza bases. Bake about 10 mins or until bases are browned lightly. 3 Meanwhile, combine yoghurt with 2 tbsp water in a small bowl. Season. Drizzle with yoghurt mixture. Sprinkle with fresh coriander leaves. Pasta carbonara SERVES 4 PREP 10 MINS COOK 10 MINS 375g spaghetti 1 tbsp vegetable or…

Hi Take 5ers, Recently, I got the shock of my life when a mate sent me a link to an OnlyFans profile with a message asking if it was my mother. At first, I thought they were joking, but when I clicked on the link, I discovered nude pictures of my 65-year-old mum. I know it’s been hard for her since Dad left a few years ago, after their 40-year marriage ended, and she had to sell up and downsize. She keeps herself busy working as a carer, but I’m now starting to wonder if she’s struggling financially. She’s the most modest person I know, so I don’t understand why she’s done something like this. How do I tactfully bring this up, and ask if she needs extra cash? Moira*…

I have a permanent reminder of what he did to me Geicy Watson*, 36. Gazing at my friend’s photo, I spotted her new piercing. Maybe I should get one, I thought. It was October 2020, and with my long black hair and 10 tattoos, I already had an eccentric look. I felt the piercings would complete it. That night, I spoke to my friend about getting my septum and mouth pierced. She sent me a link to a man named Dewal’s Instagram page. Looking through the profile, I saw he was offering three piercings for $120. I booked an appointment and later that week, travelled to the studio. Walking inside, I was met by a very tall man, with dark hair and eyes. “I’m Dewal. Nice to meet you!” he…

As a rebel growing up in a strict household, Mariah Carey has early memories of being banned from singing at the dinner table. “I loved singing; I was singing since I started talking. I can’t help it,” she revealed. “I went into the living room and I got up on the coffee table and continued singing at the top of my lungs. I guess that was an early indication of who I was going to be.” While we might not all have the same skills as Carey, most of us enjoyed singing as kids. Eventually, many of us stop – but it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, Gerald Marko, a voice coach and lecturer at Monash University, says melody is ingrained in all of us, even in…

I put dry coffee grounds in the fridge to get rid of bad smells. Barb Lambert, Manukau, NZ. Add an egg to mashed potatoes instead of milk and they will taste so creamy and yummy. Brooke Green, Albany, WA. I have a lip balm in the pocket of every coat I own. It’s a lifesaver! Preeya Choudhury, Cranbourne, Vic. I place a recycling plastic bag in my laundry trolley when I am tidying up any pot plants or shrubs that are at waist height, to put all the weeds and dead leaves in. That way I don’t have to keep bending down to pick up any bits and pieces, and also I can push my laundry trolley around while I go. Daphne Harrison, Townsville, Qld. We cut our dishwasher tablets…

I’m restoring a war plane on my driveway! Harley Jones, 43, Sydney, NSW. Aged five, I looked around in wonder. My dad, Don, 36, had brought me to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base in Amberley, Qld. “That’s an F-111 tactical attack aircraft,” he said, pointing to a jet on the tarmac. “A supersonic fighter-bomber.” It was 1986, and Dad was an officer in the Australian Army. If ever there was an RAAF aircraft going in his direction, he could hitch a ride if he wanted! I’d accompanied him several times and loved it. “Can you show me the cockpit?” I begged Dad now. He roped someone into taking us over to see the F-111 up close. Then Dad plonked me in the pilot’s seat. From that moment on,…