Table of contents for 27-Apr-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Katie is a qualified Happiness Club Trainer, delivering Happiness Club training to schools, clients and charities to improve the mental health and emotional wellness. She is also a Hypnotherapist working with clients to let go of the things that are holding them back. Please search Katie the Happiness Trainer. Cutting contact Q After moving out of my family home, my parents want to speak to me every single day and as much as I want to stay in contact with them, it’s too much – how do I let them down gently? Rose, Sussex A When a young person reaches adulthood and moves out of the family home, parents often feel a bit lost and ‘out of the loop’. You can help by encouraging them to pursue their own hobbies,…

Walking along the shore with friends was a great way to see in the New Year. And I was looking forward to the year ahead as I had planned to start IVF. It was for my second child – a sibling for my wonderful daughter Beau, now nine. Only, as I plodded along the beach, I noticed a tremor in my left hand. I had been taking a vitamin supplement in preparation for IVF. Maybe it’s just a side effect, I thought at first. But I couldn’t help but think of my mother Margaret, 80, and my grandmother – who had both been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Booking in to see my GP, I just assumed they’d tell me to stop using the supplement. ‘I’m going to refer you to a…

Carefully carrying a tray of drinks from the bar, I placed them down on the table. Passing them round to my mum Sharon and sisters Kelly, now 41, and Vicki, 38, I raised my glass. ‘Cheers!’ I smiled, as we all clinked our Pornstar martinis. We had reason to celebrate. Mum had just been given the all-clear from breast cancer back in 2017, after five years in remission – she fought it like a trooper, never once losing her positivity or sparkle. After a year of treatment in 2012, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a lumpectomy, she was doing well – and after five years of yearly check-ups, she was officially in the clear. Mum had been given a second chance and we weren’t going to waste it. ‘Another round?’ I…

Hearing the click of the front door, I listened as my wife Jemeela and little boy Harry came running into the room excitedly. ‘Dad!’ Harry shouted. ‘I want an alpaca.’ It was September 2018 and the pair had been to visit an alpaca farm with a Groupon voucher – it was clear the furry animals had had quite an effect on them. ‘Had fun, I take it?’ I asked. ‘It was amazing,’ Jemeela, now 39, replied. ‘I felt so grounded around them – they’re such peaceful creatures.’ ‘That’s great,’ I said – I loved seeing them both so happy. ‘And you should have seen Harry,’ Jemeela continued. ‘He went wandering off with a feed bucket and all the alpacas were sniffing his hair – he really loved every second.’ ‘Oh…

Grab a bargain Simplify your skincare routine on a budget with Face Facts. With a four step regime, you can bag each of these products for under £3. Step 1: Superfood Gel Cleanser, £2.99 This gel cleanser is the perfect budget-friendly first step in your routine. Ideal for removing makeup and cleansing the skin. Step 2: Superberry Radiance Serum, £2.99 This glow-boosting water based serum will nourish the skin to leave you with a luminous complexion. Step 3: Peptide Eye Gel Cream, £1.99 Awaken tired eyes and smooth fine lines with this soothing light gel cream. Step 4: Hyaluronic Hydra Gel Cream, £2.49 The fourth and final step is to moisturise and this soothing lightweight gel cream will quench dry skin for a natural, radiant and dewy glow. Using this…

The hustle and bustle of modern life can feel a little bit too much. So take a deep breath, relax and escape to one of these nature stays from Canopy and Stars. • All stays available to book at canopyandstars.co.uk BIG SKY RETREAT Hookhill Plantation, Devon Nestled in-between Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks, this Swedish-style yurt is the perfect place to reconnect with nature. The Big Sky Retreat has stunning 180-degree views of the surrounding countryside and with the Hookhill Plantation woodland a stone’s throw away, you’ll be spoilt for walks. Owners Alison and Scott have nurtured the wildflower meadows for the past 20 years – it’s a true spectacle to see. Pack your identifier books as there’s wildlife galore, from butterflies to birds, badgers, foxes, deer and owls. In…

We’re loving The brand-new Disney’s The Little Mermaid is hitting the big screen next month, and we can’t wait to see Halle Bailey starring as Ariel! To celebrate, Disney have launched a new Ariel doll, inspired by Halle. With long mermaid locks and a shimmering, elaborately decorated tail in stunning aqua and purple tones, little ones can create their very own stories for Ariel at home – whether on land or under the sea! After all, life really is better down where it’s wetter… • The Mermaid Ariel doll by Mattel, £19.99 • Available via shop Disney on Amazon and at retailers nationwide What’s trending Give your morning coffee a makeover with the stunning range from Costa. Take your brew on the go with the stylish reusable travel cups, in…

Anna Hamill, the creator behind cards and gifts business And Hope Designs. Visit andhopedesigns.com or follow @andhopedesigns on Instagram 1. Tell us how your business started – what inspired you? It all started with a small batch of hand-lettered greetings cards, designed to scratch a creative itch. I’ve been creative my whole life but had to put my wedding photography business on hold when we moved to Northern Ireland from the north east of England as I was expecting our fourth child. A few months later I found myself feeling antsy. I needed to be creative, so I picked up my paintbrushes and began trying watercolour. I invested in an iPad and an Apple Pencil and started lettering. Bit by bit, I came up with some designs I thought would…

Proud Embankment, London, on Tuesday 16 May 2023. Curated by model and influencer Charlotte Edwards, Catwalk to a Cure will see people living with Parkinson’s take to the runway, as well as unmissable performances from a host of acts. Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, and currently there is no cure. It affects around 145,000 people in the UK and every hour two more people are diagnosed. There are over 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. Parkinson’s UK are here for everyone affected by the condition. They fund research into the most promising treatments and fight for fair treatment and better services. Tickets are available from £30 and all the money raised will help raise vital funds for Parkinson’s UK. • To buy your…

Have you ever found yourself hanging awkwardly around the school gates, too shy to speak to the other mums? Or lurking around at the back of a gym class, scared to reach out and say hello to the other members? You’re not alone. Thinking back to starting school as a fresh-faced five-year-old, making new friends wasn’t something we ever had to think about – it seemed to just happen naturally. But the older we get, the harder it becomes. So why is it so difficult? ‘When it comes to making friends as an adult, there are many factors that come into play that make it hard, but maybe the biggest one is a fear of rejection,’ says life coach Natalie Trice. ‘We often think about this when it comes to…

There’s nothing better than experiencing a clean home, popping a wax melt on top of your burner as the final scent-sational touch. That’s something that these businesses know all too well. From sharing the industry secrets, how to steps and amazing products you can by – look no further. Wake up and smell the roses… Light up your life! You’ll find the right scent for you with Popili’s perfect range of wax melts. With A Wax Melt Selection Box including invigorating smells such as Damson, Rose and Plum, Fairy Dust and Seychelles, they are beautifully presented in a presentation box – making a great gift. If that wasn’t enough, Popili also provide a Wax Melt Subscription Box, so you can be the first in line for exclusive scents as well…

Whip up some showstopping spring bakes from the comfort of your own home with Maldon Salt – impress your guests! • Please visit: maldonsalt.com Victoria Sponge Swiss Roll Serves: 6 people Prep time: 30 minutes Total time: 1 hour YOU WILL NEED: □ 130g golden caster sugar, plus extra to dust□ 130g plain flour□ 3 large eggs□ Pinch of Maldon Salt□ 300ml double cream□ 1 tbsp icing sugar□ Strawberry jam for filling□ Fresh strawberries for filling and garnish 1 Preheat the oven to 180OC. Grease a 33 x 23cm Swiss roll tin with a little vegetable oil and then line base with baking paper. Grease this again with some oil and then sprinkle some caster sugar into the tin and move it around to make sure it evenly covers the base…

We love receiving your pictures posing with your stories! Here’s just a few of our favourites from the past couple of months… For your chance to be featured, email in a picture with your favourite story to hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk 60 and fabulous! Kym is proof that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. Kym Vincenti, Southend Jacob and Bruno have the fulltime jobs of being pet influencers! Judging by this gorgeous pic of them, it’s easy to see why… Oli Reid, Hampshire We loved sharing Lisa’s story about her beloved pet hamster – RIP Spud. Lisa Murray-Lang, Birmingham This gorgeous pooch Fred is proudly showing off his feature on the front cover, alongside his brothers Henry and James. He had the all important job of nannying orphaned ducklings……

Stacking up plates in the dishwasher, I stifled a yawn. ‘I’m knackered,’ I said to my fiancé Anthony heading to the living room to collapse on the sofa. After a long day at work back in August last year, the mess from dinner was all cleared away, the house was clean and tidy and our kids Ryley, 13, Rubee, 12, and Hunter, eight, were all tucked up in bed. Finally, it was time to relax. Snuggling up on the sofa together, I stuck the telly on and let my mind drift away. But before I knew it, my eyes felt heavy. ‘Do you want to go up to bed, love?’ Anthony, 38, asked, seeing me dozing off. ‘No, I’m fine here,’ I said, settling down. It was the norm for…

Bad breath Q My hubby has bad breath – it’s got to the point where even our teenage kids notice it. He has regular dentist check-ups so I don’t think it’s his teeth. What else could be causing it? Molly, Gloucester A 80 to 85% of causes of bad breath (halitosis) have an intraoral cause – commonly gingival and periodontal disease (gum disease). If he sees the dentist regularly, it’s likely this has already been considered, but it’s still important to let the dentist know. Halitosis can also originate from the gastrointestinal system. Acid reflux, gastric and duodenal ulcers, a hiatus hernia or even stomach cancer, could be responsible. One other possibility is helicobacter pylori infection. Some medical conditions can cause halitosis such as diabetes, upper respiratory tract infections, kidney…

GO WILD Letting your garden grow wild is a sure way to bring in some pollinating pals to your garden. With the following tips from ‘Mr Plant Geek’ and Rowse Honey’s gardening expert Michael Perry, you’ll be well on your way to attracting quite a buzz… • Please visit: rowsehoney.co.uk to find out more SAVE THE BEES For many years, gardening seemed to be the practice of ‘taming a garden’. But over the years, we’ve come to realise that a few frayed edges aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Allowing some weeds to appear, whether that’s amongst your borders or in a more controlled space, is a brilliant way to provide additional nectar sources for bees. Here’s some top pollinator-friendly weeds perfect for planting in spring. Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) The biggest…

Coming back home from a dog walk, I collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted. That’s me done for the day, I thought. I was six months pregnant and if I was honest, sometimes didn’t see how I was going to get to the end of it. I was absolutely exhausted. You see, as well as all the usual pregnancy symptoms, I was dealing with a condition called neurofibromatosis, or NF – something I’d been diagnosed with at age 10. It’s a rare genetic disorder that causes benign tumours to grow in the nervous system, leaving me in constant pain. Only, I was determined not to let it stop me and in June 2020, I started trying for a baby with my partner Jack, 25. He had given me a new-found confidence,…

Radi Clean Flexible Wand, £7, Dunelm Dusting in those hard to reach places almost seems impossible – especially in areas like your radiator! However, with this flexible duster, you can curve, bend and jiggle it in and out of tight spaces, getting rid of cobwebs and dust. Even better, all you need to do is shake off the excess and wipe down with a damp cloth. Did you know that cleaning your radiators can save you a pretty penny, too? Keep them dust free all year round. Verdict: GENIUS! Dust be gone! What the fluff?! Now, after dusting, we are sure you put the grime and dirt in the bin – that’s not the case for artist Mateo Blanco. Using off cuts of dog fur – yes dog fur – he…

Wearing a baby pink birthday girl sash with a matching fluffy crown, Sutton Mosser was ready to celebrate her third birthday with her mum Justine Johnson by her side. Living in their Cedar Lake Road family home in Michigan, USA, this mother and daughter duo had a close-knit relationship. And on 15 September 2021, sporting a My Little Pony purple top, Sutton celebrated with her wider friends and family, welcoming in her third birthday with a smile. As well as loving My Little Pony, Sutton and Justine were known to watch traditional children’s TV cartoons together, including the humorous yellow character SpongeBob SquarePants on screen. Only, behind her motherly nature, Justine openly struggled with substance abuse as well as severe mental health problems, which she had suffered since the age…

www.clairepetulengro.tv Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April You begin to realise that all of the recent experiences you’ve had so far this year are connected. You now see who was responsible for how you feel and what was the motive behind their actions. Instant attractions via professional paths can change the course of many an Aries future, especially if you put your trust in your heart. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away. You see you were existing but now you want to live. You will also see who has lied to you in order to keep you on their side, Taurus. You decide very quickly…