Birthday cakes were always a very big deal when I was growing up. Every year, my mum would pull out our copy of The Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book — which my grandmother wrote — and tell us to pick out our favourite.

Last week was my nine-year wedding anniversary. Wedding anniversaries aren't actually a big deal in my house — to my husband Jimmy, at least, because every year he forgets. I, on the other hand, always make an effort — including the year that I gave birth to our son the day before our anniversary and still managed to give him a gift from my hospital bed.

One of the things I love about Australia is the pride we take in our celebrities. It's the "little Aussie made good" mentality that has us referring to stars as Our Nicole or Our Russell or Our Cate. And, of course, Our Heath.

No-one ever said going on a diet was easy — especially when you work at Woman's Day! You see, a few of us are trying to lose a few kilos. For some it's thanks to eating and drinking too much over Christmas and New Year. For another it's because she's getting married soon. And I'm trying to lose weight because I'm going to be a bridesmaid in March.