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Big W customer gobsmacked over $4000 shipping fee

<p>A Big W customer was only trying to buy an outdoor play set for her kids but got the shock of her life when she saw the "ridiculous" shipping fee that was over three times the cost of the play set. </p> <p>The Singleton mum had added the $1,200 item to her cart while shopping online and was about to check out when she was greeted with a $4,466 shipping fee. </p> <p>"How in God's name can they charge $4,466 for delivery! Big W are slowly losing my vote!" the outraged mum wrote on Facebook, even swearing off the department store for the apparent money grab. </p> <p>According to the Big W website, the play set is sent via Plum Play, a "trusted partner", and not by Big W stores, and because the woman lives in a rural area, she initially believed that was the reason for the extortionate shipping costs. </p> <p>A few other shoppers criticised the high fee. </p> <p>"That is fricken ridiculous!!!! No one would pay that," one said. </p> <p>"Jesus, are you ordering a few pallets of bricks? No way normal merchandise would cost that much to send," another wrote. </p> <p>A few others questioned the weight of the item and where she lived, while others tried to buy the same item and got even higher shipping fees. </p> <p>"It jumped a few grand for a couple of ks for me," one wrote, with the cost of standard delivery for the play set at $7,858. </p> <p>Some reported fees of up to $50,000, but most were $7,000 to $10,000. </p> <p>The department store has addressed the issue and told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em> that an "error on the website" was to blame. </p> <p>They have since corrected the delivery charges which should have been about $100 for the woman's location. </p> <p>"We were made aware of a delivery calculation error on our website which has since been resolved. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused," a spokesperson told the publication. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Reese Witherspoon announces shock family update

<p>Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth have announced their divorce after over a decade of marriage.</p> <p>In a joint statement posted to Witherspoon’s Instagram, they shared that it was “a difficult decision”.</p> <p>“It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” Witherspoon said in the statement.</p> <p>“We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness, and mutual respect for everything we have created together.</p> <p>“Our biggest priority is our son and our entire family as we navigate this next chapter. These matters are never easy and are extremely personal.</p> <p>“We truly appreciate everyone’s respect for our family’s privacy at this time.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLzAB_vgc-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLzAB_vgc-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p> Witherspoon’s marriage to Toth, a fellow actor, producer and talent agent spanned just shy of 12 years.</p> <p>The decision to call it quits came as the marriage had become platonic, <em>Page Six</em> reported.</p> <p>According to <em>Architectural Digest</em>, the pair sold their seven bedroom, 10 bathroom English Country-style estate for $21.5 million back in 2020.</p> <p>They co-parent two children together, Ava and Deacon, from Witherspoon’s first marriage to actor Ryan Phillipe, and share a son, Tennessee James Toth.</p> <p>In an interview with <em>Harper’s BAZAAR</em>, Witherspoon said that Toth was the reason behind her starting a production company, “He said, ‘You should produce movies. You read more books than anybody I know. You should just buy some of them and turn them into films.”</p> <p>Despite their divorce, Witherspoon had told the outlet they enjoyed being wed and was lucky to be with someone who supported and appreciated her.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Absolutely ir-Reese's-istable: Krispy Kreme & Reese's team up

<p dir="ltr">Calling all peanut butter fans! There are so many Reese-on’s why you’ll want to visit a Krispy Kreme store this month.</p> <p dir="ltr">Krispy Kreme Australia has partnered with American confectionery giant Reese’s to launch three new limited-edition doughnuts that are here to answer your wildest peanut butter-filled dreams.</p> <p dir="ltr">Two of the dough-licious doughnuts; Reese’s Peanut Butter &amp; Choc and Peanut Butter Cheesecake made with Reese’s will be available to purchase from today at select Krispy Kreme stores across the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">From Tuesday 4 October, Aussies can get their hands on an additional limited-edition doughnut, Peanut Butter Choc Brownie made with Reese’s, available exclusively at 7-Eleven stores.</p> <p dir="ltr">Olivia Sutherland, Marketing Director at Krispy Kreme Australia said: “We know our fans will go absolutely nuts over this collaboration - it’s the perfect combination of Reese’s Creamy Peanut Butter and Krispy Kreme’s light and fluffy doughnuts.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Joeven Perez, Associate Marketing Manager of Reese’s Australia explained: “This collaboration is all about merging two iconic brands into some seriously delicious offerings that we know Australians are going to love. The doughnuts are here for a limited-time only so we encourage you to try it whilst you can - your tastebuds will thank us for this peanut buttery goodness!” Krispy Kreme’s limited-edition Reese’s doughnuts will retail at $3.90 AUD each, or $29.90 AUD for a dozen and will be available from Tuesday 20 September for a limited-time only.*</p> <p dir="ltr">Krispy Kreme REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER &amp; CHOC Doughnut: Krispy Kreme's signature shell is filled with Reese’s Peanut Butter Sauce, dipped in a smooth chocolate ganache, then finished with Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips &amp; a sprinkling of Peanuts.</p> <p dir="ltr">Krispy Kreme PEANUT BUTTER CHEESECAKE MADE WITH REESE’S Doughnut the iconic Original Glazed doughnut is dipped in creamy white truffle, finished with a smattering of peanuts &amp; a Reese’s Peanut Butter cream cheese frosting swirl.</p> <p dir="ltr">Krispy Kreme PEANUT BUTTER CHOC BROWNIE MADE WITH REESE’S Doughnut, featuring the signature shell filled with Reese’s Peanut Butter &amp; choc brownie batter filling, dipped in milk choc ganache and finished with Reese’s Peanut Butter drizzle, choc crumb and a hand sprinkle of Peanuts.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ffffdfa9-7fff-d097-ce75-be117143a10c"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">To find your nearest Krispy Kreme location, or to order online, visit <a href="https://www.krispykreme.com.au/">www.krispykreme.com.au</a>. Or visit one of the 710 7-Eleven stores nationally, to find your nearest location or order online visit www.7eleven.com.au.</p>

Food & Wine

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Anne Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon jump on new Barbiecore trend

<p dir="ltr">After official <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/first-look-at-completely-transformed-ryan-gosling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">behind-the-scenes photos</a> emerged of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken in the upcoming live action <em>Barbie</em> film, there’s been a resurgence in Barbiecore, with celebrities and high-end fashion houses deciding that its vibrant pink hues are the new “It” colour this season.</p> <p dir="ltr">The nostalgic trend that embraces hyper-pink shades and feminine silhouettes has been cropping up on social media, high fashion runways, and at red carpets and A-list events around the world. </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d815d5df-7fff-6579-fbae-e4f2806e96f9">“The main theme? More is more – and you can never have too much pink,” reports <em><a href="https://www.beautycrew.com.au/what-is-barbiecore?category=makeup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beauty Crew</a></em>. “When it comes to fashion, the vibe is essentially dopamine-dressing in fluorescent pink and as many sparkles as you can handle.”</span></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/barbiecore1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Anne Hathaway (left), Reese Witherspoon (centre), and Duckie Thot (right) have stunned with their own spins on the Barbiecore trend. Images: Getty Images</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Stars Anna Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon are among the growing number of celebrities jumping on the fuschia-focused trend, which has also been featured heavily by designer brand Valentino to the point where “Valentino pink” is the fashion house’s “now-signature magenta hue”, per <em><a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/anne-hathaway-valentino-couture-front-row-magenta-dress-1235248441/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women’s Wear Daily</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hathaway was spotted styling a sequin minidress in the brightest of hot pinks, paired with towering platform shoes and a studded minibag in a matching shade at the Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-413fa31d-7fff-825f-e2de-b202e24780bc">Joining her in the front row in equally pink outfits was Korean pop rapper Hwasa and West Side Story star Ariana DeBose, with actress Florence Pugh also spotted styling the vibrant hue.</span></p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/barbiecore2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Anne Hathaway, Hwasa, and Ariana DeBose were spotted in all-pink outfits in the front row of the Valentino Haute Couture, flanked by Giancarlo Giammetti (far left) and Anna Wintour (far right). Image: Getty Images</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Witherspoon styled a knee-length, fuschia frock at the New York premiere of Where The Crawdads Sing, where actress Karen Pittman was also spotted pairing a hot pink camisole and skirt with a bold 80s-style blazer.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ab7093a2-7fff-c494-4a56-77d03b17f7d8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Other celebrities who have embraced the trend include Lady Gaga, the Kardashians, Australian model Duckie Thot, Lizzo, Sebastian Stan, and Natalie Portman.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf6c52LOMAQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf6c52LOMAQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalie Portman (@natalieportman)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Australian designer Mariam Saddiq, who featured Barbie pink suits and dresses at her Australian Fashion Week show this year, describes it as feminine without being “sickly sweet”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When people ask me for the Barbie treatment, it’s about helping them look like they have a magically snatched-in waist. It’s a move away from the androgynous look to something feminine, with prettier silhouettes, blazers with nipped waists and the celebration of that hourglass silhouette,” she told the <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/the-barbiecore-summer-is-coming-blame-margot-robbie-20220630-p5axxt.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">“For me, it’s about making sure that there’s an edge to pink looks so that they’re not sickly sweet.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Erik Yvon, a Melbourne designer, says the trend is a continuation of the current generation’s interest in styles from the 80s and 90s.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You can see it happening internationally at labels such as Moschino already but I totally see it happening here,” Yvon says.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There’s an energy and playfulness to it.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-de8d7168-7fff-120a-dd7d-36e6ce050122"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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The W word is tough to talk about, but we need to be better prepared

<p dir="ltr">Widowhood isn’t a topic that is widely discussed. Yet with some women left financially ruined after the unexpected death of their spouse or partner – especially if they suddenly find themselves single parents. It is a discussion we should be having, both to support newly widowed women and to lessen the financial burden on those who may follow.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>‘My partner is gone and I don’t know how I’m going to make ends meet.’ </em>This is a situation that no one wants to face, yet many women sadly do. And it isn’t just elderly women or those in retirement.</p> <p dir="ltr">Between 2018 and 2020, suicide and accidental poisonings were the two <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/leading-causes-of-death" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leading causes of death among 25-44 year-olds</a> – both of which can occur without warning. For the partners left behind, their grief is compounded by another painful loss – the loss of financial stability.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>‘It won’t happen to me’</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Too many women overestimate their financial resources and protections, while believing their partner will always be there to cover their back. Can you afford to pay the bills after the sudden loss of income – which may have been the bulk of your household earnings? Do you have the full picture of your, and your partner’s, assets, and debts? How will you juggle your job with the new-found constraints of being single, and potentially a single parent? If your partner was self-employed, is the business still profitable or even viable if they’re gone? Has its value suddenly diminished?</p> <p dir="ltr">These are just several of many issues widows face, at an already stressful time.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Preventing the worst</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">While we can’t control death, I think there are two equally important preventative actions women can – and must – take to avoid becoming cash-strapped widows. Firstly, ensure your partner looks after themselves. Men especially often ignore their own health, until it’s too late. Be a source of encouragement and support, and hopefully keep them earthside much longer, with a good diet, regular exercise, stress-relieving activities, and regular medical check-ups for physical and mental health.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, healthy lifestyles don’t guarantee a long life. Which is why contingency plans are crucial. Protecting yourself and your/your partner’s dependents should they die includes having:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Emergency cash fund</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Household savings and investment plan</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Life insurance</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Funeral cover</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Current will</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Nominated superannuation/trust beneficiaries (which are separate from a will)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Succession/exit plan for any business owned</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Self-employed people paying their worker’s compensation and superannuation</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Qualified tax and financial advice</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Good debt management</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Coping with loss</strong></p> <p>To every widow, let me first say I am so sorry for your loss. You may feel overwhelmed by your new reality. Money worries will only add to this. Some immediate options to ease this pressure and let you focus on processing your grief with loved ones include:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Time off: Work may seem like a good distraction, but you risk making poor decisions under clouded judgement. Take bereavement/annual leave to keep money coming in. For the self- employed, have a business partner/senior employee cover for you.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Notify your partner’s employer: To pay out remaining wages and entitlements.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Life insurance, funeral cover: Check your partner’s policies, including through their superfund. Lodge a claim as soon as you can – it takes time to be processed and paid out.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Get support: You may be eligible for <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/what-help-there-when-adult-dies?context=60101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government support measures</a>, including deferred obligations and bereavement payments.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">If your partner died at work: Worker’s compensation or other payouts could be owed to you.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Counselling: Free services include <a href="https://griefline.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Griefline</a> or your/your partner’s Employee Assistance Program.</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Life as a single woman</strong></p> <p>It’s now entirely up to you to manage money and save for retirement. I recommend getting good professional advice to work through:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Transferring assets to be under your name</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Maintaining a roof over your head – which may mean downsizing to a more affordable home</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Adjusting to life on one income</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Maximising earnings; minimising tax</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Investing larger payouts – your late partner’s superannuation, insurances, compensation</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Business strategy – how and whether to sell or continue trading</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Updating your will; providing for dependent children/elderly parents</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Meeting debt obligations</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Should you enter another relationship down the track, whether a binding financial<br />agreement is needed</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">The death of a partner is emotionally devastating. Yet it needn’t devastate you financially too. No matter your situation or life stage, I implore you: take an active role in managing your money. The death of a partner will necessitate it, but you’ll make a difficult situation that bit easier by having financial strategies already in place to fall back on.</p> <p><strong>Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, On Your Own Two Feet: The Essential Guide to Financial Independence for all Women (Ventura Press, $32.99). Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</a>  </strong></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b1756543-7fff-b2bd-5ecc-d2a34edf3b13"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Retirement Life

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Reese Witherspoon's lavish estate up for grabs

<p>Oscar-winning actress, producer and media mogul Reese Witherspoon officially listed her Brentwood estate in LA, tentatively popping it on the market with a $34 million (US$25m) price tag.</p> <p>Thanks to the sizzling market and a bunch of modern updates Witherspoon and husband Jim Toth made to the residence, the pair have added a hefty $12 million (US$9m) to the original $22 million (US$16m) they paid just two years ago.</p> <p>It seems Witherspoon is testing the market, with the listing only providing a small handful of photos. It notes that additional photos, including the property website, are available upon request to "qualified buyers".</p> <p>Located in the wild of Brentwood's Mandeville Canyon, the Country English Traditional mansion sits behind big gates, ancient trees and a long, winding driveway. The entire place is completely private to the public and feels a world away.</p> <p>While Witherspoon and Toth left the overall style of the home much the same, there have been some pricey contemporary upgrades, including custom-designed finishes and woodwork, that enhance its character appeal to modern buyers.</p> <p>Think a fresh white exterior; steel and brass handrails and updated timber on the grand staircase in the two-storey black and white marble and limestone foyer; new white oak hardwood floors; and a fitness room with sauna.</p> <p>The kitchen, complete with butler's pantry and breakfast room, has been re-done, ditto the now-blue hued library.</p> <p>The new owners will also enjoy use of a separate upstairs "owner's wing" with lavish dual bathrooms and dual boutique walk-in closets, plus an additional office or nursery.</p> <p>Set on just over 3 verdant acres, the seven-bedroom 10-bathroom charmer includes 10 French doors opening to a rolling front lawn and a sweeping back lawn with breathtaking canyon views and gardens.</p> <p><em>Images: Domain </em></p>

Real Estate

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Big W worker’s act of kindness leaves mum stunned

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Big W shopper had to “hold back my tears” after a store employee’s amazing act towards her two sons, who both have autism.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shopper Jacqueline said she had taken her two non-verbal sons, aged three and five, to look at what birthday and Christmas presents they may like from the toy section of her local Big W in Bunbury WA.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The single mum said she had a friendly conversation with one of the team members at the store who was working nearby, explaining her boys’ developmental delays which made it difficult for them to choose gifts from a catalogue.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When Jacqueline and her sons made their way to the checkout sometime later, the staff member and a colleague gave her a bag to take home - with the two toys her sons had picked out as their favourites inside.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing the story on a popular Facebook page, Jacqueline said she didn’t expect the “extremely kind” gifts and thanked the Big W staff for their kindness.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I just wanted to share something that happened today in my local Big W,” she wrote in a post on the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/376227143178380"><span style="font-weight: 400;">BIG W MUMS AUSTRALIA Facebook</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> page.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I took my boys in to have a look at the toys to hopefully give me an idea on what they might like for birthdays and Christmas,” she continued.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My boys are five and three but they are also non-verbal autistic with global developmental delay so flicking through the catalogue doesn’t really get us anywhere (the one I did grab got ripped to pieces).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My oldest son found the Little Live Pets Pooping Flamingo and fell in love with it. We kept doing loops back to this flamingo even after he took interest in other things.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“At risk of upsetting him and causing a meltdown I said to him that we wouldn’t get it today (something I had been saying before we even walked in the shop). He was clearly disappointed but walked away as asked.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We moved down to the final aisles that are set up in the middle of the shop purposely for the toy sale and had a look through.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“There was a lovely lady that worked there who was going through writing down where everything was and moved the trolley out of the way.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We had started talking and I made mention of why we were there and why we don’t use the catalogue. I had made mention of how much my oldest loved the flamingo and also the fact that my youngest wasn’t really giving me any ideas however if all else fails we would find some more cars that he doesn’t already have (ASD parents will know).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We continued on our way and finished doing what we were doing.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jacqueline said she was stunned when she was stopped and given the bag as they were about to leave.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As we were about to head to the checkout, the lady I had spoken to and another staff member stopped me and handed me a black bag which had the flamingo and a light-up car and said that Big W wished to gift them to us,” she wrote.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My response was ‘Are you sure?’ ha ha. I was completely overwhelmed and trying to hold back my tears.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fans of the retailer were blown away by Jacqueline’s post.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This made me cry, this is amazing of them. I hope your boys love their gifts,” one said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Beautiful. Sounds like you and your boys deserved something lovely to come your way,” another commented.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And that’s why I go to Big W! That is the most wonderful gesture by those ladies and I hope their manager knows about it,” a third said.</span></p>

Family & Pets

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Reese Witherspoon shares stunning family photo with three children

<p>Reese Witherspoon has given fans a beautiful portrait of her husband Jim Toth, and three children, Ava, Deacon and Tennessee, to mark a special occasion.</p> <p>The 44-year-old <em>Legally Blonde</em> actress took to social media to give thanks to medical workers and frontline employees who have been working throughout the pandemic to care for others.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838995/reese-witherspoon-family-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a81f7a5f5c7b4531a922b8019de19eb4" /></p> <p>"Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours. Feeling very grateful for all the frontline workers, medical workers and people who are caring for others today," Reese wrote, noting the significance of their work through the US holiday.</p> <p>She then added: "And I’m deeply grateful for ALL of you! Sending my LOVE."</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838994/reese-witherspoon-family-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a33585d238f4473ab742674011c664c8" /></p> <p>Reese got to work on her Thanksgiving feast as early as Wednesday, sharing that she had already begun baking for her family.</p> <p>The beloved celebrity is extremely close to her family and previously opened up to Entertainment Daily on raising her children at different stages during her life.</p> <p>She said: "When [you're a young mother], you're like, 'Oh, they're going to be fine!'</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838992/rylee-rose-10.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d3f5a29670f1494cb556d03c402cb493" /></p> <p>"As you get older, it's, 'Am I taking them to the ballet?' When you get past survival, I think that's what's so interesting… about motherhood.</p> <p>“It's about what you think you're creating for your children, when it's really just an artifice."</p>

Family & Pets

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Big W recalls Christmas product after X-rated complaints

<p>Aussie retail chain Big W has been forced to recall a popular Christmas item after it was not what it seemed.</p> <p>Taking to Facebook, a customer shared a photo of a seemingly X-rated bath bomb, suggesting it looked like something phallic.</p> <p>“If anyone’s looking for bath bombs … I think Big W might have got their candy cane a bit wrong!” she captioned the image.</p> <p>Her hilarious suggestion quickly prompted the retailer to pull the $2 item from shelves across the country.</p> <p>The post in the group Big W Mums Australia was inundated with comments from shoppers also poking fun at the Candy Cane Bath Fizzer.</p> <p><img style="width: 363.024px; height: 500px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838932/screen-shot-2020-11-26-at-105143-am.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a1b38f95cd004c5f9311cd018299afbf" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Credit: Big W Mums Australia</em></p> <p>“The label clearly states for external use only. Calm down guys,”’ one customer joked, while another added, “Now that will be a jolly good time!”</p> <p>“I just spat out my drink!” a third person said.</p> <p>“Bath bombs are going to be popular in some household stockings this year, especially all those single ladies,” said another.</p> <p>After drawing attention for all the wrong reasons, Big W recalled the pink item.</p> <p>“We are aware that the candy cane bath bomb in our range did get some attention on social media and we certainly didn’t intend to offend our customers,” a spokesperson said in a statement to news.com.au</p> <p>“Thanks to their feedback, we withdrew the bath bomb from our range on Thursday, November 19.”</p>

Body

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Reese Witherspoon’s emotional tribute to Lynn Shelton after tragic death

<p>Actress Reese Witherspoon has spoken of her “complete shock” over the sudden death of prolific television director Lynn Shelton.</p> <p>The director and independent filmmaker passed away on Friday in Los Angeles after suffering from a blood disorder, according to a statement from her spokesperson, Adam Kersh. She was 54 years old.</p> <p>Shelton was recently known for directing several episodes of the popular Hulu series<span> </span><em>Little Fires Everywhere</em>, starring Witherspoon. Other popular shows she’s worked on include T<em>he Mindy Project, New Girl, GLOW, Mad Men</em><span> </span>and<span> </span><em>Fresh off the Boat</em>.</p> <p>In a statement to<span> </span><em>IndieWire</em>, Shelton’s romantic partner, comedian and writer Marc Maron said she collapsed on Friday morning after having been ill for a week. He added that “a previously unknown, underlying condition” unrelated to COVID-19 played a role in her death.</p> <p>He shared his devastation by the sudden loss.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQ3op5gqnd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAQ3op5gqnd/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">I’m so devastated to hear about Lynn Shelton’s passing yesterday. I’m in complete shock that this vibrant, talented, and soulful filmmaker is no longer with us. Lynn was so passionate about our show, Little Fires Everywhere. She said the book truly spoke to her, and that she longed to direct a show that spoke meaningfully about motherhood, sexuality, race, and class in America. And she did. She cared deeply about the WHOLE cast and crew, making sure we all felt heard, seen and appreciated. Lynn also shared so much of her life with us. Her love of her son, how motherhood changed her life, her life changing decisions that made her the woman she was. I feel so fortunate that I got to collaborate with Lynn on both The Morning Show and Little Fires Everywhere. Her spirit touched so many people in the filmmaking world. Her memory lives on in our vivid days together on set and in her wonderful films. Please watch her work and see her talent for yourself. #RestInPeaceLynn 🙏🏻💫💜</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reesewitherspoon/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Reese Witherspoon</a> (@reesewitherspoon) on May 16, 2020 at 2:19pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I loved her very much as I know many of you did as well,” he told the outlet. “It’s devastating. I am leveled, heartbroken and in complete shock and don’t really know how to move forward in this moment. I needed you all to know.”</p> <p>Witherspoon took to Instagram to pay tribute to Shelton.</p> <p>“I’m in complete shock that this vibrant, talented, and soulful filmmaker is no longer with us,” she wrote. “Lynn was so passionate about our show,<span> </span><em>Little Fires Everywhere</em>. She said the book truly spoke to her, and that she longed to direct a show that spoke meaningfully about motherhood, sexuality, race, and class in America. And she did.”</p> <p>The actress said that Shelton “cared deeply about the whole cast and crew” and was always willing to share her life with the world.</p> <p>“Her love of her son, how motherhood changed her life, her life changing decisions that made her the woman she was,” Witherspoon continued.</p> <p>“Her spirit touched so many people in the filmmaking world. Her memory lives on in our vivid days together on set and in her wonderful films. Please watch her work and see her talent for yourself.”</p> <p>Shelton is survived by her son, Milo Seal, husband of many years Kevin Seal, her parents, two brothers, one sister and partner Marc Maron, with whom she spent the last year of her life.</p>

Caring

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Mother opens up about horrifying BIG W baby formula fight

<p><span>A woman who was at the centre of a furious argument over baby formula at Big W that went viral across the country has revealed what happened in the lead up to the heated altercation.</span><br /><br /><span>Steph Groen told <em>Yahoo News</em> she was shopping for her three-year-old toddler as well as a clothesline at the Lilydale Big W store in Melbourne on Saturday, when she watched as a couple wearing surgical masks were attempting to buy two tins of baby formula each.</span><br /><br /><span>The couple were asked to put the items back once they reached the self-serve checkout kiosk as there is a two-tin limit per customer in place.</span><br /><br /><span>From there, an explosive argument erupted.</span><br /><br /><span>“Staff approached them and said: ‘You won’t be able to buy that here today as you’ve been seen buying it already’,” Ms Groen recounted.</span><br /><br /><span>“They kept arguing and arguing and by this time it had been a good minute or two.</span><br /><br /><span>“The other shoppers in front of me had gone through the checkout but they didn’t have a trolley and were just holding items so could walk through.”</span><br /><br /><span>Ms Groen continued to watch on as the pair argued with staff but became nervous and anxious, so decided to speak up.</span><br /><br /><span>“He was just hassling and hassling the staff and I had enough. I said to him: ‘No, put it back, they said put it back’, and he turned to around and looked me dead in the eye.</span><br /><br /><span>“I was a bit scared, he looked crazy. He said, ‘what the f*** has it got to do with you’.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7835586/big-w-fight-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fc58ca621074433c97b898bdb6833414" /></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><em>Steph Groen's trolley was in between two men when a heated exchange began.</em><br /><br /><span>An older man defended Ms Groen as the man wearing a surgical mask yelled, and stated he had seen them purchasing milk tins at a chemist.</span><br /><br /><span>“What you don’t see [in the video] is he looked really scary. He was seriously aggressive over formula,” Ms Groen said.</span><br /><br /><span>It was then both men fiercely argued and a recording of the fight was shared on social media.</span><br /><br /><span>Ms Groen placed her trolley between the two to keep them apart.</span><br /><br /><span>“He ripped his mask off and threw the formula in my trolley,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>“He lunged at the older man twice.”</span><br /><br /><span>In the video filmed of the incident and uploaded to Facebook, the senior customer can be heard instructing the man to “put it back”.</span><br /><br /><span>The other man responds: “What if I don’t? What are you going to do?”</span><br /><br /><span>The older man tells him that he will take him outside.</span><br /><br /><span>After the video ended, security stepped in and Ms Groen was able to pay for her items.</span><br /><br /><span>However, the mother of two said she was left shaken up while at the checkout.</span><br /><br /><span>“I was freaking out when he ripped his mask off and got so close – that was a massive concern,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>“I’ve got two kids and I took my six-year-old out of school because I didn’t want contact with anyone. It was one of the only times I’ve gone out in nearly two months and this has happened.”</span><br /><br /><span>Ms Groen had left her two children at home so they did not have to witness the altercation.</span><br /><br /><span>Staff later thanked her for using her trolley to stop the argument from escalating and the older man and his partner have since found her on Facebook to express their gratitude.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Groen says the argument was not sparked over race and there were no racial slurs during the altercation.</span><br /><br /><span>“The issue was the fact they were already seen buying the formula and then seen buying it again,” she said.</span><br /><br /><span>A Big W representative told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em> in a statement on Sunday that the store has had a two-tin limit in place for more than 12 months.</span><br /><br /><span>“The customers had a disagreement and then were asked to leave our Big W Lilydale store by a store team member and centre security, police involvement was not required,” they said.</span></p>

Legal

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Reese Witherspoon could be her daughter’s twin in stunning ski selfie

<p>Reese Witherspoon’s 20-year-old daughter, Ava Phillippe is growing up to look exactly like her after her mother took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of the duo on a skiing trip.</p> <p>Looking more like sisters rather than mother-daughter, Witherspoon captioned the selfie “Weekend ski bunnies” as the photograph overlooked the mountains.</p> <p>Ava showed her appreciation in the comments, writing, “I love youuuu”.</p> <p>The pair are known to have a close relationship with the actress regularly sharing snaps of the two on her Instagram page.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8orIcvAzGT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8orIcvAzGT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Weekend ski bunnies 🎿</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reesewitherspoon/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Reese Witherspoon</a> (@reesewitherspoon) on Feb 16, 2020 at 9:06am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Ava, who is currently in her second year of college at the University of California, Berkeley, also shared a photo of her mum while she was visiting her on campus.</p> <p>Phillippe is also her mother’s biggest supporter. In December last year she posted a congratulatory caption on Instagram after Witherspoon was honoured with the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award at The<span> </span><em>Hollywood Reporter’s<span> </span></em>annual Women in Entertainment gala.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5HYpgFn6kt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5HYpgFn6kt/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">quick visit from my cute mama ❤️</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/avaphillippe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Ava</a> (@avaphillippe) on Nov 20, 2019 at 9:15pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Major congratulations to my mama, who received an award today for her leadership in the industry that she cares so deeply about improving. I’m so grateful to have a mom this thoughtful, passionate, and courageous, and I’m glad other people can recognise how special she is!” she wrote.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B58gwMDJcKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B58gwMDJcKT/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Major congratulations to my mama, who received an award today for her leadership in the industry that she cares so deeply about improving. I’m so grateful to have a mom this thoughtful, passionate, and courageous, and I’m glad other people can recognize how special she is! 💐</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/avaphillippe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Ava</a> (@avaphillippe) on Dec 11, 2019 at 12:26pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Phillippe’s dad, actor Ryan Phillippe, told<span> </span><em>Entertainment Tonight</em><span> </span>in 2017 that he finds it strange to be constantly told how his kids, Ava and Deacon, look exactly like their parents.</p> <p>"I mean, it's weird, because isn't that obvious?" he joked. "Who else are they going to look like, you know? I always find that such a weird thing, like, [Ava] looks exactly like her mother, who else is she going to look like? It's an odd thing that people fixate on that."</p>

Beauty & Style

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BIG W begins massive cull of 30 stores across Australia

<p>Auburn, Chullora and Fairfield will be the first three Big W stores of a massive 30 store cull to be shut down within the coming months.</p> <p>As the retailer attempts to turn around a stunning $85 million loss at the hands of their savage competitors, Kmart and H&amp;M, 90 staff in each store will be getting the ruthless end of the stick.</p> <p>The closure process will put a $370 million dent in the company’s profit, and yet after a solid 10 months since announcing the “store review”, Big W’s owner, Woolworths Group, have yet to announce the remaining 27 branches that are yet to close.</p> <p>Big W bigwigs insist the once mighty retailer still has a future and some trimming of the store network will help “to accelerate the path to profitability”.</p> <p>The three doomed Sydney-based Big W stores will bring their shutters down for the final time on January 31.</p> <p>A Big W spokeswoman told<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://over60.monday.com/boards/63889387/pulses/news.com.au" target="_blank">news.com.au</a></em><span> </span>it acknowledged “closing any store isn’t easy on our teams and communities”.</p> <p>“The purpose of Big W’s store review, announced in April last year, is to build a strong, profitable and more sustainable store and distribution centre network that reflects our customers’ needs and the rapidly changing retail environment,” she said.</p> <p>The spokeswoman said staff have been offered redeployment to other stories or Woolworths supermarkets.</p> <p>Last year, Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said there was “no alternative” but to shut down a number of their stores. However, he stressed that closing the chain altogether was not on the cards.</p> <p>Despite the major shutdown impending on Big W, there are positive signs for the retailer.</p> <p>Its $85 million full-year loss in 2019 was an improvement on the $110 million loss in the previous year.</p> <p>Sales were also up 4.2 per cent last year helped by clothing, online and click and collect.</p> <p>“The closure of 16 per cent of the Big W network is unlikely to be the end of the store rationalisation profile,” the 2019 note said.</p> <p>“Big W can confirm we are on track with our turnaround,” the store’s spokeswoman said.</p> <p> </p>

Money & Banking

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Which stores are open this holiday season?

<p>End-of-year public holidays are coming. For shoppers looking to buy gifts, food and other last-minute groceries, figuring out the trading hours of retailers can be tricky.</p> <p>The laws vary from state to state, and <a href="https://www.nra.net.au/app/uploads/2019/10/Christmas-New-Years-Trading-Hours-2019-2020-National.pdf">some parts might be exempted from restrictions</a>.</p> <p>Find out more about the opening hours of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/what-stores-are-open-across-the-country-this-christmas-and-new-year/news-story/08091421469d547243749e87ff10a58c" target="_blank">various major retailers</a> below.</p> <p><strong>Westfield</strong></p> <p>All Westfields across the country will be closed on Christmas Day.</p> <p>The malls are all open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. In NSW, all stores are open on Christmas Eve from 9am to 6pm except for Woden, Belconnen, Kotara and Tuggerah, which close an hour earlier. Parramatta is open from midnight until 6pm Christmas Eve.</p> <p>In Queensland, all stores are open from 7am to 6pm with the exception of Inaloo, which is open from 9am on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.</p> <p>All Victorian Westfields are open on Christmas Eve from 8am till 6pm except for Fountain Gate, which opens an hour earlier. On Boxing Day, all malls are open at 8am and close between 9pm and 10pm.</p> <p>In South Australia, all stores are open from 9am to 5.30pm on Christmas Eve – except for Marion, which is open from midnight – and from 9am till 5pm on Boxing Day.</p> <p>Western Australia stores are open from 8am till 6pm on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day except for Inaloo, which is open from 9am.</p> <p><strong>Coles</strong></p> <p>All Coles stores will be closed on Christmas Day.</p> <p>In Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT all stores will open under normal trading hours for the rest of the season with the exception of Knox and Coburg, which will be closed on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.</p> <p>In NSW, all stores will be open on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day except for Smithfield and Macquarie Fields, which will be closed.</p> <p>Queensland stores will also trade as normal with the exception of Mt Isa, Goondiwindi and Ayr, which will be closed on Boxing Day, December 29 and New Year’s Day.</p> <p>Western Australians and South Australians are encouraged to check their local stores for details as metropolitan and regional stores’ opening hours may vary.</p> <p><strong>Woolworths</strong></p> <p>All NSW, SA, ACT, NT, VIC and TAS stores are open on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day. The Western Australia stores will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.</p> <p>Queensland stores will have varying opening hours – most will open until 6pm on Christmas Eve with Mullumbimby opening until 7pm.</p> <p>Western Australia stores will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with Perth metropolitan stores opening from 7am to 9pm on weekdays and 8am to 6pm during weekends.</p> <p>All stores will be open on Boxing Day with the exception of the following: NSW’s Leichhardt Marketplace; WA’s Esperance and Katanning; and Queensland’s Weipa, Mission Beach, Mount Isa, Ayr, Bowen, Charters Towers, Proserpine, Blackwater, Childers, Pittsworth, Chinchilla, Kingaroy and Roma.</p> <p><strong>ALDI</strong></p> <p>ALDI supermarkets will be closed on Christmas Day and have reduced hours on Christmas Eve. The New Year’s Day will also see most stores changing their trading hours.</p> <p>The German retailer encourages shoppers to check the opening hours online.</p> <p><strong>Big W</strong></p> <p>All Big W stores across the country will be closed on Christmas Day and open on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, with the exception of Queensland’s Kingaroy which closes on Boxing Day.</p> <p>Kingaroy will also be closed on New Year’s Day along with all NSW stores, while the rest of stores across the country are open.</p> <p><strong>BWS</strong></p> <p>Some stores – including NSW’s Boomerang Drive and most in Tasmania, Victoria and SA – will be open on Christmas Day.</p> <p>All stores will be open on Boxing Day except for Coogee, Castle Hill, Leichhardt Marketplace and Marketplace Drive, North Sydney and Pymble in NSW as well as Forest Lake, Coorparoo, Mission Beach, Parker Street and Burdekin Plaza in Queensland.</p>

Food & Wine

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So grown up! Reese Witherspoon celebrates son’s birthday with heartfelt post

<p>Reese Witherspoon is one who likes to keep a lot of her family life private. </p> <p>However, for her eldest son, Deacon’s sweet 16th she posted a beautiful message along with a snap of the two to celebrate. </p> <p>"Happy 16th Birthday to this guy whose bright smile makes every day better!" she wrote.</p> <p>"Kind, compassionate, hysterical, friendly, and talented," Witherspoon continued. "I'm so lucky to have a son like you!"</p> <p>Witherspoon, 43, shares her son Deacon with ex-husband Ryan Philippe, who posted his own message to Deacon on his Instagram story the night before his son’s milestone age. </p> <p>“The edge of sixteen,” it read. </p> <p>The pair also have another child together, 20-year-old Ava who is their eldest. </p> <p>Witherspoon and her now-husband Josh Toth share a son, Tennesse, who recently just celebrated his seventh birthday. </p> <p>Reese has proven to have some seriously strong genes because her three children look so similar to her it is unnerving. </p> <p>Ava also took to Instagram to share a heartwarming post for her younger brother. </p> <p>“Happy happy sweet 16 to my cooler-than-me little brother with a heart of gold! I couldn’t have gotten any luckier than to have your humor, love, and patience in my life,” she said. </p> <p>“You are always one of the funniest, most thoughtful, peaceful people in the room, and I couldn’t be prouder as your big sister of who you are and who you’re becoming. Happy birthday, D!”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Reese’s three kids, Ava, Deacon and Tennesse all grown up! </p>

Family & Pets

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Chaos in stores as BIG W launches 80 per cent off sale

<p>BIG W has launched a massive clearance sale with thousands of items heavily discounted, some up to 80 per cent off.</p> <p>The budget department store has had a tough run this year, with the announcement in July that 30 of its stores would be closing.</p> <p> Some items available in the clearance sale start from just $1.</p> <p>Discounted brands include the much-loved Dyson, with the brand’s vacuums reduced to $449. The Dyson V7 Origin cordless vacuum has had $200 slashed off the price, making it available at $399.</p> <p><img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7830426/big-w-body.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2b576de8d5e94b9a8162bf2e769eb9fa" /></p> <p>A huge range of toys are available in the clearance sale, including Lego, Marvel and Disney brands available at a large discount.</p> <p>Bedding, beauty products, exercise and fitness gear, camping equipment and luggage are also included in the sale.</p> <p>There’s 40 per cent off on Covergirl, Maybelline, Max Factor X and L’Oreal cosmetics as well as 30 per cent off Logitech computer equipment.</p> <p>If you finally want to get into meal prepping or just have a better way to store your food, the department store is offering ½ price on Décor food storage.</p> <p>The clearance sale is online and in store and is available while stocks last. Some deals are only available until the 19th<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><br />of September, so get in quick!</p>

Home & Garden

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Massive BIG W flash sale with 50 per cent off major brands

<p>Big W has revealed a surprise flash sale, with significant discounts on electronics, appliances and various goods.</p> <p>The discount department store has slashed 50 per cent off major brands, including Sony, Dyson and Tefal.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 196.664px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7829821/bigwflash.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/adc791f1503a4072a7f321f1c1aa4b84" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Big W's Flash Sale is on until 11.59pm tonight.</em></p> <p>Among the biggest savings is the Sony 65” Ultra HDR Smart TV, which has been reduced by $750 to come in at $999. Sizeable price cuts have also been applied to Viano 55” Smart LED LCD TV, which was marked down by $320 to come in at $379.</p> <p>Other household appliances are also discounted – Dyson Hot &amp; Cool Fan Heater is down from $599 to $399.</p> <p>Gadget enthusiasts can enjoy markdowns on Fitbit watches, which are now $239 apiece. Cameras are also on offer, with Canon EOS 3000D DSLR Camera going from $599 to $399.</p> <p>Some kitchen items are also included in the flash sale, such as Breville Nespresso coffee machine – which was brought down from $299 to $169 – and NutriBullets for $199.</p> <p> There are also hairdryers, luggage, slow cookers and Tefal frypans going for up to 50 per cent off.</p> <p>The sale, which is on now, ends tonight at 11.59pm.</p>

Home & Garden

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