Innehållsförteckning för Issue 17, 2025 från that's life!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know what our pets were really thinking? Are they hungry? Is there anything that would make them happier? Well Nikki Vasconez is one of a growing number of ‘animal communicators’ who claim they can understand our furry friends. She tells us all about how she left a law career to talk to animals in our story on page 60. Her aim is to help pet owners find the cause of their animal’s anxiety or pain – and make everyone in the household happier. My friend Ginnie has two adorable pet rabbits, Mr Buttons and a female bunny called Bailey. But she suspects they might prefer hanging out with her husband to her. ‘I’d love to know who they love more!’ she laughed. She also wants…

Mark is grateful to be alive after a freak accident left him trapped in his car Mark Stockwell, 54, Bittern, Vic The BEST AUSSIE real-life Fastening my seatbelt, I turned the keys in the ignition of my Toyota Aurion and peeled out of the car park. It was August 2024, and at 3.20pm I was driving home after a long day behind the wheel as a truck driver delivering furniture across the Mornington Peninsula, Vic. Winds whipped the pine trees outside, and I was eager to get home and out of the wild weather. Dialling my wife Kirstie’s number on hands-free, I filled her in about my day. Our son Sam, then 12, was at home with Kirstie and I’d planned see him there. As she works nights at Woolworths,…

TEX MEX CAPSICUMS SERVES 4 PREP & COOK: 45 MINS 4 medium (900g) red capsicums 500g beef mince 30g sachet taco spice mix 300g jar Mexican salsa 3 00g corn kernels, drained, rinsed 2 cups corn chips 1  cup grated Perfect Bakes   3 Cheeses Guacamole and sour cream, to serve 1 Cut capsicums in half lengthways. Remove and discard membranes and seeds. Place cut-side down in a large roasting pan lined with baking paper. 2 Cook in a moderate oven (180°C) for about 25 minutes, or until tender. Remove pan.  3 Meanwhile, heat an oiled, large, non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat. Add beef. Cook, stirring to break up mince, for about 5 minutes, or until changed in colour. Add spice mix. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.…

Whipping together a milkshake, Camilla Frazier-Tidrow seemed the perfect daughter. She loved spoiling her father, 65-year-old Joel Frazier. Joel was proud of his girls, Camilla and her younger sister Jamie, 24, who had both been rodeo queens when they were younger. But after Camilla and her husband Kory moved out and had a son, the couple battled addiction issues. Things went from bad to worse when, in 2015, Joel’s wife and his girls’ mother Donna passed away. Camilla, Kory and their son moved back to live with Joel in their grief. But Joel wasn’t happy about the couple using drugs in his house. In July 2017, Joel rang Jamie and asked if she’d take a sick horse to the vet, which she agreed to. That day Joel had taken his…

Although it may be easy to dismiss Nordic walking as just another fitness fad, this one is worth paying attention to. It’s a full-body workout using poles to mimic cross-country skiing – without the snow. Being low-impact means most people can do it. Despite sounding like a winter sport conducted on a snowy mountaintop, Nordic walking can be carried out on any surface in any climate. It originated in Finland in the 1990s as a popular summer training routine for cross-country skiers. Now it’s gained popularity worldwide, and is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. Nordic walking engages your upper and lower body. Begin by planting the poles behind you and pushing off with each step. The poles help propel you forward so your legs, arms, shoulders,…

WE PAY FOR EACH PHOTO USED Tommy likes hiding in the greenery of the backyard. Paul Delaney, Carrum Downs, Vic Fishing off the rocks in Tura Beach on the NSW Sapphire Coast. Hayden Berne, Penguin, Tas My granddogs Amon and Lyra posing patiently for their photo. Dianne Stewart, Mareeba, Qld $50 CASH WHAT’S ODD? PUZZLE HOW TO WIN... This image has been taken from the film The Avengers. We have tinkered with it and added something that doesn’t appear in the original scene (9). Write which object doesn’t belong only on the entry coupon and you could be a winner. Turn to entry coupon (p50) to enter! Isla, seven, was so excited to win her first ever medal in the 700m run! Her older sister Lexie cheered her on from…

Felicity’s night out with friends turned into a nightmare Felicity Calveley, 24, Airlie Beach, Qld Clinking glasses with my mates Fern and Liv, both 24, I took a sip of wine. ‘Happy birthday!’ I grinned at Fern. It was September 2022, and we were out at a bar celebrating her special day. Drinks in hand, we decided to walk upstairs to the second floor of the bar. As we reached the top, I spotted my ex on the other side of the room. We’d broken up two years before and I hadn’t seen or spoken to him since. I wasn’t planning on talking to him. But a little later in the evening, Fern, Liv and I went to sit down to rest our feet and I realised my ex and…

HARISSA CHICKEN WITH TURMERIC COUSCOUS AND MINT PESTO SERVES 4 PREP & COOK: 50 MINS 4 (1kg) chicken thigh cutlets, skin-on 2 tblsps harissa spice mix 1 red onion, halved, thinly sliced 1⅔ cups pearl couscous ½ tsp ground turmeric 2 red or yellow capsicums, chopped 2 zucchini, sliced 500ml carton chicken stock MINT PESTO 1 cup fresh mint leaves, plus extra leaves to serve 2 tblsps pistachios, toasted 2 tblsps lemon juice 2 tblsps olive oil 1 Place chicken in a large bowl. Sprinkle with spice mix and toss to coat evenly. 2 Heat an oiled, large, deep, non-stick frying pan over a medium to high heat. Add chicken and cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until evenly browned. Transfer to a large plate. Cover loosely with foil…

CARAMEL PEACH RASPBERRY TART SERVES 6 PREP: 35 MINS 2 50g packet Butternut Snap Cookie 85g butter, melted 300ml tub thickened cream ¾ cup sour cream ⅓ cup icing sugar mixture  1 cup caramel spread  3  medium yellow peaches  (450g), cut into thin wedges  125g punnet raspberries  1 Lightly grease a 25cm loose-base flan tin (2.5cm deep). Place on a tray.  2 Process cookies in a food processor until finely crushed. Add butter. Process until combined. Press over base and three quarters up side of tin. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 3 Beat cream, sour cream and sugar in small bowl of a mixer until firm peaks form.  4 Spread ¾ cup of caramel over base of crust. Arrange half the peaches over caramel. Scatter over half the berries. Spoon over…

Benjamen said Camilla and Kory had threatened his family, and he hadn’t told police because he was terrified for his family member’s lives. Benjamen Buck was charged with tampering or fabricating evidence by failing to report human remains, and accepted a plea deal of five years in prison, with a maximum of 20 years. Camilla Frazier-Tidrow and Kory Tidrow were charged with murder. In October 2019, Kory Tidrow’s trial began at the Rita Blanca Coliseum in Dalhart, Texas. Camilla Frazier-Tidrow’s trial followed a few months later. It was revealed in court that Camilla Frazier-Tidrow had snapped after intercepting her father’s new will, which left her out as a beneficiary. Incensed with rage at her sister Jamie inheriting the house, she’d made a milkshake for her father, as she always did…

Nikki Vasconez, 34 Sitting on the edge of the water fountain, I admired the little birds hopping around me. ‘How can I enjoy life like you do?’ I asked curiously. It was 2016 and, aged 26, I was working as a litigation lawyer. But the long hours and high stress that came along with the job were starting to wear me down. ‘I’m so unhappy,’ I told my hubby, Mike, then 27. He and I had gone to high school together, but it wasn’t until we crossed paths again a year after graduating that we fell in love. We tied the knot three years later in June 2010, and Mike has always been my biggest supporter. ‘Quit your job and we will figure the rest out later,’ he told me.…

1 SHIFT YOUR MINDSET While many of us tend to fear change, try to see it as an opportunity for growth. Any change – both good and less welcome – can teach you something about yourself and the world around you. 2 ONE SMALL STEP Big changes can be overwhelming, but if you break them down into smaller steps, they suddenly feel more manageable. Create a ‘next step’ list and work your way through it, celebrating each ‘win’ along the way. 3 ASK FOR HELP You don’t have to navigate change alone. If things feel overwhelming or isolating, don’t be afraid to seek out support. Talk to a friend, family member or healthcare professional, and prioritise self-care. HEALTH TIPS ARE FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. THAT’S LIFE! ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY NOR…

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Kate Kirsten, Editor Sarah Firth, Deputy Editor Beth Young, Art Director Darren Monaghan, Picture Editor Holly Campbell 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, 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. ©2025. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. that’s life! is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au / syndication@aremedia.com.au…

Lozzy Keft, 30, Ballarat, Vic Perching on my three-year-old sister Elise’s bed, a little girl in a pink dress locked eyes with mine. ‘Don’t look at me,’ she whispered. ‘Go to sleep.’ Aged five and terrified, I bolted from the room. ‘There’s a girl on Elise’s bed!’ I cried to Mum. When Mum came to check, no-one was there. ‘Maybe you dreamt it,’ she soothed. But the girl returned, time and again, and I grew less afraid. She told me her name was Annie. She followed me to my school, drifting beside me like a shadow. ‘I used to come here too,’ she’d say sadly. Once, she took my hand and guided me down the street into an old water tower. ‘I used to play in here a lot,’ she…

Lisa Allcroft, 36, Cobram, Vic Sitting down with a hot chocolate, I felt a flutter and cradled my blossoming belly. ‘I can’t wait to meet you, little one,’ I beamed. It was June 2021 and my fiancé, Marty, then 32, and I were over the moon to be expecting our first child. But during our 12-week scan, our excitement turned to fear when the sonographer went quiet. ‘Is everything okay?’ I asked. ‘I think something might be wrong. You need to see your GP,’ she said. Booking in for the next day, I was terrified. ‘What’s wrong with our bub?’ I asked desperately. ‘Your baby has exomphalos,’ he said, gently explaining it was a defect in the abdominal wall, causing the organs to develop outside the body at the umbilical…

PANCAKE PUFF CREATIONS MAKES 24 PREP & COOK: 30 MINS Melted butter, for greasing Dark choc bits, M&M’s Minis, fresh blueberries, sliced fresh strawberries and cake sprinkles, to decorate 375g bottle Original Pancake Shake 1 cup buttermilk 2 eggs 1 Grease two x 12-hole round based patty pans (1½-tblsp capacity) with melted butter. 2 Divide chocolates, berries and sprinkles among separate small bowls. 3 Empty the dry pancake mix into a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Add buttermilk, eggs, butter and vanilla. Whisk to form a smooth, thick batter. 4 Spoon about 1 heaped tblsp of batter into each prepared pan hole. Sprinkle each with either chocolates, berries or sprinkles. 5 Cook in a moderate oven (180°C) for about 12 to 14 minutes, or until puffed and…

Libby struggled with alcohol abuse for years Libby Robertson, 34, NZ Sitting at the pub with some mates, I basked in the afternoon sun while we sank beers. It was 2015, and the familiar warmth of alcohol made me feel cosy and safe. Hours later, after the sun had set, my friends waved me goodbye. But instead of going home, I stayed and kept drinking solo, ordering booze until the last call, before making my way to a nightclub. For me, this was an average night out. I’d had my first taste of alcohol when I was just three years old, stealing a sip from my grandpa. In early high school, I enjoyed bubbly beverages on weekends with friends, or even occasionally alone. I’d steal the grog from my parents’…

FINANCE TIPS The Financial Empowerment & Resilience Network (FERN) offers online workshops and personal coaching to help you develop practical skills to develop your financial wellbeing. They may be able to help with setting budgeting or savings goals and learning how to achieve them. Completing the FERN workshops also gets you access to the Living Costs website where you can access financial resources and services. The best news is, it’s free and anyone is eligible to participate. Find out more by visiting the Brotherhood of St Laurence website, bsl.org.au Waiting in line at the supermarket checkout, I looked at the time on my phone in shock. I’d been in the store for two hours and had far more in my trolley than what was written on my shopping list. ‘I…

STEP ONE Exfoliate The key to a flake-free tan is to do the prep work. A shower scrub is a quick way to help remove dead skin cells and impurities, creating a smooth canvas for the tan to adhere. $10 OXX Glow Getter Tan Remover Scrub kmart.com.au STEP TWO Moisturise Dry areas such as elbows, knees and ankles tend to absorb more tanning product, leading to darker, uneven patches. Avoid this by lightly moisturising these areas before beginning your tanning process. $17.99 CeraVe Moisturising Lotion chemistwarehouse.com.au STEP THREE Apply No matter the formula, always apply your tan using a mitt. This helps avoid any harsh lines as it gently buffs the formula into your skin. $8.95 Bondi Sands Application Mitt priceline.com.au STEP FOUR Maintain To extend your glow, it’s important…

T he moon has always been a source of inspiration and guidance for humans. Today, many people are using lunar cycles to help them manifest desires, set intentions and practise rituals. By aligning with the moon’s rhythms, you can connect to its natural flow and enhance personal growth. Here are some ideas on how to work with moon phases. WAXING CRESCENT BUILD MOMENTUM As the moon begins to grow, so should your energy and focus. This phase is all about taking small, positive steps toward your goals. Tip Break your intentions into manageable tasks. Even small actions can help build momentum and align you with your ultimate goals. Ritual Start a gratitude practice. Write down three things you’re thankful for each day to attract abundance. FIRST QUARTER MOON FACE CHALLENGES…