All prices are approximate. STYLING ASSISTANT: LILLY VEITCH. HAIR: BRAD MULLINS. MAKE-UP: NICOLA JOHNSON. TALENT: ALISON BRAHE-DADDO @ CMC TALENT MANAGEMENT. LOTUS DADDO @ ICON MANAGEMENT.■

1. Foraged red berry wreath, $129, from French Country Collections. 2. Large ceramic tabletop trees, $12 each, from Kmart. 3. Wonderland wooden reindeer board, $15, from The Warehouse. 4. Bonbon cushion, $17, from Kmart. 5. Merry Christmas tufted bat

Imagine this. It is Christmas Eve, 1974. Your parents, your husband, the twins, your daughter and the family dog are all in a rented station wagon. You are pretty convinced that not everyone is getting out of this station wagon alive. Rain lashes the

Make Classic Potatoes (recipe below), omitting raking potatoes. Instead, cut potatoes into wedges and reduce cooking time to 45 minutes. Toss hot roast potatoes in the pan with 100g of small cubes of mozzarella, drizzle with reheated gravy pouch, the

There’s no denying it – Christmas is coming! As you read this, you’ll probably find yourself falling in one of two groups. There’s the “got it sorted” tribe, who have been ticking things off their Christmas list for the past couple of months. They’ll

SERVES 6 PREP & COOK TIME 40 MINUTES 2 mangoes 2 teaspoons finely grated ginger 1 clove garlic, chopped finely 2 tablespoons soy sauce ¼ cup (60ml) lime juice (about 2 limes) ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil 4 makrut-lime leaves, centre vein remo

He’s won a Pulitzer Prize, three Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmys, five Grammys and two Laurence Olivier Awards. In addition, he’s been nominated twice at the Oscars. But there’s one particular statuette that has a special place in Lin-Manuel Miranda

Scoop spoonfuls of gelato around the sides of coffee cups or glasses, carving out a well in the centre. Do this ahead of time and freeze. Just before serving, make small espresso coffees and pour into the ice-cream wells. Serve immediately with bisco

SERVES 8 PREP + COOK TIME 30 MINUTES (+STANDING TIME) 1.6kg ribeye on the bone 2 teaspoons coriander seeds 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 2 tablespoons sea salt flakes pinch of mixed spice 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 bunch green onions

The Duchess is late. It’s a steamy spring day, so hot and humid the air feels wet, and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, is in the middle of a tightly scheduled press tour. She has a tendency, a member of her entourage explains, to stop and chat with

I was in the super-tax bracket, and it was starting to become ridiculous. Some of my fellow actors had already moved to other countries – Sean Connery, Richard Harris, Roger Moore, Richard Burton, and many others. Eventually, my accountants told me t

Alessia Sharpe was born with her eyes open. They were big and blue and seemed to be taking in the world from the moment she entered it. “It was incredible,” says her father, Adam. “She was so beautiful. She came out so alert. She was looking around.

Unlike Hollywood movies, which often portray happy families coming together to celebrate and unwrap gifts under the tree, for some of us December can be anything but merry. If you’re dealing with the death of a loved one, are under financial pressure

SERVES 4 PREP + COOK TIME 20 MINUTES Tear 150g Italian-style day-old bread into coarse crumbs. Heat ⅓ cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Cook crumbs, 1 clove crushed garlic and ½ teaspoon dried chilli flakes,

Love Actually, obviously! Everything. I love Christmas! It’s a time to celebrate and just be with the people you love. It doesn’t get much better than that. I really love just being at home, to be honest. I love people popping over. The kids are abl

For as long as broadcasting star Samantha Hayes can remember, she has tended to live her life at pace. Busy at work and busy at home, with not much space in between for contemplation or reflection. But after coming through the most challenging 18 mon

MAKES 12 LARGE SERVES PREP & COOK TIME 20 MINUTES (+ REFRIGERATION TIME) 4 x 180g blocks white chocolate, chopped finely 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1⁄3 cup (25g) desiccated coconut, toasted 100g mini meringues, plus extra for decorating 100g whit

King Charles III is now the patriarch of the Windsor family’s festive traditions, and following in his mother’s footsteps will be hosting Christmas with Queen Camilla at Sandringham House in Norfolk this year. It will be their third since Queen Eliza

• If you have the time, make the stuffing the night before, and store it in a cool place (don’t refrigerate it unless you live in a hot, humid climate, in which case fridge is best). • Make your own breadcrumbs for the stuffing, ideally from good-qu

SERVES 10 PREP + COOK TIME 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES 4kg half ham on the bone (we used the shank end) 2 medium (340g) onions, peeled 2 sprigs rosemary, chopped finely 10 sage leaves, chopped finely 1kg small lunch box size apples 1⁄3 cup (80ml) maple syrup

Poh Ling Yeow’s bare feet dance across the dry riverbed, sand between her toes. Behind her, the edge of the red escarpment glows like firelight as the sun creeps above the horizon. A black-footed rock wallaby watches from behind a boulder as Poh pick

When Benji and Zoe Marshall first met, it was a time of deep trauma for both of them. Zoe had recently left a relationship mired in domestic abuse and rugby league star Benji was grieving the loss of his father Mick Doherty. But their first Christmas

Champagne corks Small eye hooks String/ribbon Paint (various colours) Sharpie pen Hot glue gun Felt, twigs and embellishments (listed below) * Start by painting the base of your characters. Red and white for Santa, grey for the koala, white and

Marilynn McLachlan hasn’t always embraced the idea of ageing. As the editor of New Zealand Woman’s Weekly – a magazine that celebrates the beauty and power of all women, and the wisdom each year brings – she would read stories about women who proudly

This Christmas, why not move away from traditional wrapping paper and explore creative alternatives? Choosing different ways to wrap your presents is not only a great way to be more sustainable, but it also allows you to add a personal touch to each

Celebrate the season with dresses for dancing, easy pieces for relaxing, and swimwear to flatter a range of shapes and sizes. PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTINA SOLJO. STYLING BY LILLY VEITCH. ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE.■