Why I'm having a Year of "Nup".
Holly is making 2025 the 'year of backing the f*ck ff', the woman who tracked 3,000 orgasms after her sexless marriage ended, and why everyone (including Leigh Campbell) is shaving their face.
Two weeks in, and 2025 is shaping up to be the year of backing the f*ck off.
The zeitgeist self-help book of January resolutions is called The Let Them Theory, a gazillion-selling Mel Robbins guide to just letting the troublesome people in your life… do what they want and stop bothering you. Oprah calls it the "best self-help book she's ever read" and it can be summarised in the words, "You do you, darl".
The most-clicked-on stories are about how much sand you're entitled to on the beach, the highest-grossing movies are cartoons, and on our phones we're still watching videos of pretty women making pretty food in their pretty kitchens. In fact, those are going big-budget, with Duchess Meghan's anticipated flower-freezing series right around the corner.
It's as if, in the face of what feels like unsolvable problems on an unfathomable scale — I started to list them, you know, war and fire and Elon Mu… and then it got too sad, and I stopped — the culture has decided to have a good lie down.
And 2024 Me must have been uncharacteristically early adopting this vibe, because, in December, when it came to choosing my Word Of The Year, a tradition at least eight years in on Mamamia Out Loud, I chose one very much in the spirit.
It's Nup. 2025 is going to be my year of NUP.
That sounds defeatist, I hear you say. A lot like no.
But it isn't. Because, for me, at least, I don't want my year of Nup to be a nothing year. I am MID, and every year is precious. I know how fast time is zipping past me. My children are taller than I am. My dog has stopped chewing chair-legs with puppy teeth. My face looks more like my mother's every day (alright, Mum, just an observation)…
🎧 Follow below to listen to this mini end-of-year wrap-up episode of MID and contemplation from Holly on what seems to have been a year when MID women have taken centrestage.
Read and listen to more
LISTEN: Holly, Mia and Jessie’s ‘word of the year’ on Out Loud
Why January is ‘Divorce Month’
Your 2025 crystal ball (Horoscope)
What is your word of the year for 2025? And how true to form was your 2024 word?
👀 Let us know the juice by leaving a comment.
'Whoops!' Madeleine West thought she was going through perimenopause. She was wrong.
For years, Madeleine West was an icon of the Australian silver screen.
Best known for her roles as Dee Bliss and Andrea Somers on Neighbours from 2000 to 2003 and again in 2017, to her roles in Satisfaction, House Husbands and then as Danielle McGuire on Underbelly, she has brought some of our country's most-watched stories to life.
But now the 45-year-old multi-talented actor, author, podcaster and activist is writing a new storyline, this time, in her personal life.
The mother of six has announced that she is expecting another baby, and at first, she didn't realise what her symptoms were pointing to.
Sharing the news on Instagram, she posted a big "WHOOPS!" in capital letters.
"Thought it was #perimenopause. I thought WRONG!" she wrote with an emoji of a little baby. "It's not too much Christmas pudding either."
The star confirmed the news saying she wasn't sure how she felt about being referred to with the title "Geriatric mum" (geriatric pregnancy is the technical term for women pregnant at age 35 or older), but added "here we are."
"I'm winding back a little to grow this little surprise package I've dubbed #007 (baby number 7, couldn't help myself).
"I don't have much more to say right now, but I've noticed I don't hear much about older parents. l know you must be out there. Just seems we are invisible…”
🎧 Follow below to listen to Diary Of A Birth. Can a woman really grow a baby without knowing she is pregnant? Then birth it in the shower? The answer is YES.
Read and listen to more
MIA FREEDMAN: My babies ate my ambition.
A lot of women regret being mothers, we’re just not allowed to talk about it.
What I learned the year I had 3000 orgasms.
Ah, data. Some people use them to track fitness goals or monitor spending habits. Me? I used it to track my orgasms.
After two sexless years at the end of my marriage, I was on a mission to reclaim my pleasure and redefine my connection to intimacy with my new partner. As a self-proclaimed data nerd, it felt natural to turn my sex life into something measurable: something I could analyse and learn from. Over the course of 2020, while others were baking sourdough or bingeing Netflix, I meticulously tracked 3,000 orgasms with my partner, using data to uncover patterns, optimise my experiences, and ultimately unlock a deeper sense of joy and connection.
What I discovered was far more profound than I expected. Tracking my sex life wasn't just about numbers, it was about reclaiming my agency, understanding my body, and deepening my relationships. Here's what I learnt and why it might matter to you, too.
The science of pleasure: discovering my 'sweet spot'.
The first thing I learnt was the power of timing. By logging every experience, I uncovered what I call my 'pleasure window' — the time of day when I'm most primed for pleasure. For me, it's late mornings, around 11 a.m. At first, I thought this was just a coincidence, but a little statistical analysis confirmed it. Morning sessions during this window consistently led to more frequent and intense orgasms.
This discovery was a game-changer. I began prioritising these moments of self-care, even scheduling them alongside work meetings and workouts. While 'scheduling sex' might sound unromantic, it was one of the most empowering decisions I made. It gave me control over my pleasure and created an exciting sense of anticipation…
Read and listen to more
At 50 years old, Jen is having the best sex of her life.
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster: How soon is too soon to date after divorce?
THE SCROLL 📱
5 things to feed your mind and fill your soul.
1. ‘I lost my spark'. What to know about 'Ozempic personality'
2. Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor separated for five years. Then they were forced to live together.
3. Brooke Shields underwent labia surgery. Then her male doctor did something without her consent.
4. “I'm 54, single and recently lost my job. In 3 months, I might be homeless.”
5. 4 easy desserts you can make in your air fryer.
ICYMI 👀
There's a $400 million lawsuit in the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni legal drama. A Brisbane influencer who claimed her baby was dying has been charged with child torture. A French woman named Anne was scammed out of 1.3 million dollars by “Brad Pitt”. How to hack your annual leave to get the most days off in 2025. The biggest snubs and history making moments from the 2025 Oscar nominations.
MID-SPO STYLE 👗💄
We are MID life, we don’t beat around the bush. So it’s time to talk about the bush, no not the one down there. The one that might be growing out of our faces. If you have noticed you are all of a sudden growing a beard. You are not alone, we see you.
During menopause, our bodies stop circulating estrogen but (thoughtfully) still continues to circulate the same amounts of testosterone. This imbalance of hormones can cause the appearance of some male secondary sex characteristics, like coarse facial hair. Fabulous.
It’s ok, even Leigh Campbell shaves her face, she explains why here.
And if you’re shave curious, here’s an explainer from Pretty Over 50 on the 5 things that happened when she started shaving her face. Now to dust off the razor…
Watch below ⬇️
Our pick of what’s new in beauty, home and style on Mamamia this week.
LEIGH CAMPBELL: 'My personal list of 'ins' and 'outs' for beauty in 2025.'
The best sandals for wide feet (that still look stylish).
'Apparently these 7 items make your home look cringe and... guilty.'
'There are 5 overnight skincare secrets I swear by for glowy skin over 50.'
Bet you know someone who’d get a kick out of MID. Time to share the love, don’t you think?
But wait, did you know that you could be getting even more weekly marvels in your inbox from fan favourites Mamamia Out Loud, You Beauty and Nothing To Wear to name just three? Oh yes, friends, there’s more goodness just waiting to inspire, surprise and delight you.
One last thing…
We want to hear from all Australians aged 18+! (well… that’s definitely us)
Complete our survey now to go in the running to win a $50 gift voucher.
We’ll be back in your box, same time next week ; )