Jean: keep on sending in ideas. I have written for just about all the
women's mags over the years. They get a *lot* of submissions.  Yes, they do
look at these submissions and get ideas, which they then hand to one of
their regular writers. At least it means  you have been thinking along the
same lines as the commissioning editors.  Yes, it is like 'pinching' an
idea....but there is a journalistic maxim 'there is no copyright on ideas'
(used to justify all sorts of nicking and plundering of other people's
work, of course...).

Next time it happens, write a nice letter saying you noticed a feature
appeared that was just like the idea you sent in, 'so it seems I have the
right idea about the sort of features your readers would enjoy' or
something - but don't sound pissed off about it - and then give a couple
more ideas.

Heather Welford