Innehållsförteckning för Issue 39, 2025 från that's life!

What’s a cara-boat? I thought, reading this week’s story about Rita and Peter from South Yunderup, WA. I’d never heard of one, and turns out I’m missing out! The couple took to the road, and the waterways, with their cara-boat – a caravan that can float – after Peter’s fight with cancer made them decide to live their dreams. Now they travel Australia at their own pace. It sounds idyllic and got us thinking about where we’d go if we had our own cara-boats. ‘I’d go to WA,’ I said. ‘I’ve only been to Perth.’ I pictured driving – and floating – down to Margaret River. But once I heard the team’s dream destinations, WA had a bit of competition. Beth told us she’d visit New Zealand again. ‘I hiked…

I let out a happy sigh, listening to my wife and daughters laugh and chitchat as we cruised up the waterway. It was 2010, and my wife, Rita, then 56, and kids Jessica, 25, and Victoria, 18, had always loved the water. Living by the canals of South Yunderup, WA, where the water channels merge to meet the Murray River, I’d bought an old party boat a few years before. It was basic but sturdy and quenched our thirst for water adventures. Even when the girls left home, our love of boating didn’t waver, neither did our passion for caravanning and camping. ‘I wish we had a home suitable for both land and water,’ I mused to Rita. A cara-boat would mean we’d get the best of both worlds –…

My home is definitely my castle, but these days you almost have to be royalty to afford all the expenses that come with renting or owning a home. During a very rainy weekend that had the rest of my family curling up in front of screens, I kept myself busy by walking through our house and jotting down my absolute top tips for saving money in each room. In hindsight, I don’t advise unplugging the lounge room TV while your husband is mid-Lord of the Rings marathon – apparently that was taking it a tad too far. But the following tips are my all-time favourites and hopefully they might help you cut costs so you can enjoy your castle, too. KITCHEN Ditch takeaway and eat at home. Avoid fancy schmancy…

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 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. ©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…

I can’t sleep because the man won’t leave me alone,’ I sobbed to Mum. I was six years old and every night a man appeared in my bedroom, wanting to talk to me. Terrified, I’d bolt to my parents’ bed, too scared to return to my room. After a week, he stopped visiting. But then one night, something even stranger happened. As I was drifting off, a cartoon-like figure suddenly appeared by my bed. To my amazement, it was Jeannie, the bubbly blonde genie from the TV show I Dream of Jeannie. ‘Hi, Danniel,’ she smiled. ‘Hi, Jeannie,’ I replied, relieved it was her and not the man. I thought I must be dreaming, but Jeannie kept popping up, even during the day. She’d follow me to school and help…

CRUNCHY-TOPPED MEXICAN CHICKEN SERVES 4 PREP & COOK 35 MINS 2 x 300g chicken breast fillets, trimmed 40g sachet fajita spice mix 1 tbsp vegetable oil 410g can tomato puree 425g can Mexican-style beans (see tip) 100g corn chips, coarsely crushed 1 cup grated tasty cheese 1 large ripe avocado, mashed 1 tbsp lime juice ½ x 250g punnet cherry tomatoes, quartered ⅓ cup coarsely chopped fresh coriander 1 Cut each chicken breast horizontally in half through the side to give two thin pieces. Toss in the fajita spice mix. 2 Heat oil in a large, oven-proof casserole dish (30cm in diameter) over a medium heat. Add chicken. Cook for 2-3 mins on each side, or until golden brown. Remove. Wipe pan clean. 3 Add tomato puree and undrained beans…

TRIPLE CHOC CELEBRATION CAKE SERVES 12-14 PREP & COOK 1 HOUR 35 MINS ⅓ cup Dutch processed cocoa powder 375g butter, softened 2 cups firmly packed brown sugar ¼ cup golden syrup 6 eggs 3 cups self-raising flour 1¼ cups buttermilk 200ml tub crème fraîche Ferrero chocolates and fresh strawberries, to decorate GANACHE 300ml carton pure cream 200g Dark Choc Melts 180g block dark cooking chocolate, broken into pieces 1 Grease three x 20cm round cake pans. Line bases and sides with baking paper. 2 Stir ⅓ cup hot water into cocoa in a small bowl until smooth. Cool for 10 mins. 3 Meanwhile, beat butter, sugar and golden syrup in large bowl of an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until combined.…

Shop online with Click & Collect to avoid grabbing impulse buys from the shelves. Terri Keith, Toowoomba, Qld Give your roses a big drink of water once a week, and empty your teapot on your rose bed to give them a boost of nutrients. Felicity Rooney, Sale, Vic Keep leftover wine in ice cube trays in the freezer and add to stews or bolognese sauce. Peita Lewis, Adelaide, SA Plant some fake flowers to brighten up a drab garden. They require no maintenance and will remain in full bloom. Jane Lawrence, Sheffield, Tas At Five Good Friends, you're among friends. We know the secret to living a long and happy life in the home you love is friendship and genuine human connection. Visit fivegoodfriends.com.au, or phone 1300 787 581. If…

RECHARGE IN RECORD TIME If you’re feeling a little sluggish, you may be in need of a power nap. A 20-minute snooze can recharge your body and mind. By keeping the nap short, your brain is able to pause and rest without entering a deeper sleep, which can lead to grogginess. Napping for 10 to 20 minutes can improve your concentration, increase your attention span and boost your reaction time. Only nap between 1-3pm, and set an alarm to wake you, to ensure you can still sleep at night. Brush up If your toothbrush has seen better days, it’s probably time for a replacement. Ideally you should get a new one every three to four months. Bacteria builds up on the bristles over time and this can lead to re-contamination…

BIG MAC BABY When third time parents Alison and Austin Havens welcomed their bub John in July 2024, they were besotted. But after having had two relatively small babies, this time they got quite a shock. Weighing in at 4.28kg, their bouncing baby boy was a little chunk. And so the nickname Big Mac, or Mac for short, was born. ‘He was born very, very big, and he just stayed that way for the first full year,’ Alison toldPeople. When their big baby was about to turn one, the parents decided a Macca’s themed party was an absolutely perfect and fitting way to celebrate. They had a Big Mac cake, Happy Meal toys in the take-home goodie bags, and Macca’s themed decorations such as small floral arrangements in chip…

SINGAPORE NOODLE SALAD SERVES 4-6PREP 10 MINS 3 50g packet fresh Singapore noodles 1 large carrot, shredded 1 red capsicum, chopped 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced ⅓ cup Oriental Fried Noodle Salad Dressing 1 tsp soy sauce 1 Place noodles in a large, heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water. Stand for 3 mins. Drain. Rinse under cold water. Drain. Cut with kitchen scissors into smaller lengths. Transfer to a large bowl. 2 Add remaining ingredients to noodles. Toss well to combine. 3 Pack into lunchbox containers. Top tip Try adding shredded barbecue chicken or ham strips to salad for extra flavour. HUMMUS WITH PITA CRISPS AND VEGIES SERVES 4-6PREP 10 MINS 400g can chickpeas, rinsed, drained ¼ cup low-fat natural yoghurt 2 tbsp tahini 1 small clove garlic, crushed 3…

A smile tugged at my lips as my partner, Stephen, walked through the front door. ‘I’m pregnant,’ I blurted. ‘I can’t believe it,’ he stammered, in shock. We’d met through mutual mates in 2005 and, despite our 11-year age gap – me being then 37 and Stephen 26 – we quickly hit it off. I was already a mother of three and Stephen a father to one from previous relationships, but we both decided we wanted children together. I had never been fitter or healthier, so we started trying for a family. Time passed with no joy, then our hearts shattered when we fell pregnant and sadly lost the baby in March 2007. Six weeks later, I was hit hard when my mum, Pauline, died, aged 66, from heart disease.…

WITH Alix Nicholson SARAH JESSICA PARKER SPLURGE! CATE BLANCHETT FASHION ED’S TIP Checks are having a moment – from playful gingham to bold graphic prints. Go all-out by mixing tiny checks with oversized ones, or pairing with crisp basics to balance the pattern. For an easy win, try a gingham dress with simple sandals. AUBREY PLAZA OVERNIGHT SUCCESS Beauty sleep isn’t just a saying – it’s a strategy. While you snooze, your body is hard at work, repairing and regenerating – and if you add a few overnight heroes to the mix, you can wake up to softer lips, healthier hair and a glam, nourished glow.…

WITH PSYCHIC MEDIUM Michelle De Angelis Have you ever looked up at the night sky and felt drawn to the moon? For centuries, people across the globe have watched the moon’s phases and aligned their lives – emotionally, spiritually, and practically – with its rhythm. The moon offers a simple truth – life moves in cycles. By aligning with the moon’s cycles, you can bring more intentionality and magic into your everyday life. NEW MOON INTENTIONS The sky is dark, and the moon is invisible – a cosmic clean slate. The new moon represents a time to plant seeds of goals, projects, or internal transformation. Spiritually, this is your moment to set intentions and dream boldly. Think of it as the start of a lunar month-long journey toward becoming your…