Table of contents for 1-Feb-2024 in Pick Me Up!

Signing up to Plenty of Fish, it was a way for me to start exploring. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, I was doing it for myself instead. I wanted to see how men would react to everything I had been through. Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in December 2018, needing six cycles of chemo at Kings Oak Hospital, Enfield, it was an emotional time. And even after entering remission, I was then involved in a near-fatal car accident in October 2019. Living on my own, finding a man hadn’t been a priority. I felt nervous that men would treat me differently once they found out the truth. So, in late 2019, I thought I’d test the waters. And it wasn’t long before I was chatting to a new match. David…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This kitchen caddy will make the perfect addition to your home. With an easy-access flip top lid and clip lock to hide those pesky bin smells, organise your waste in style. Plus, the easy wipe surface means you can keep this looking spick and span! For more ways to make your life easier, please visit: addis.co.uk Green storage I recycle my Weetabix boxes to make a compact organiser. It stores all my essential items and saves me money, time and fuss. Marion Aldred, London Every last drop When you cannot get anything else out of a tube of cream or any other beauty products, simply cut the bottom off and there will still be lots to…

Looking at the TV, I was enthralled by the old Hollywood glitz and glamour unfolding in front of me. Growing up, I loved watching films from Hollywood’s Golden Age, such as Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Both Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn inspired my deep love of vintage and Art Deco style. I’d always been drawn to that glamorous, maximalist style, but I didn’t have much of a free rein with interior design whilst living with my parents. It wasn’t until I moved out, at 17, I began to get creative. Moving into shared houses, I decorated my rooms to match my personality – my bedroom was like my sanctuary. I remember in the very first house, I ripped up the carpets and painted the floorboards pink. In another home, the girls…

Splashing the cash on basics isn’t necessary. You can create a capsule wardrobe on a budget. Plus, with Matalan’s help, you’re on to a winner. All of these season must-haves are under £30! ● Available to shop in store now or online via: matalan.co.uk MAKE A NOTE Do you have these items? Tick off the essentials and add the other pieces to your wishlist… ✓ White shirt ✓ Black leggings ✓ Graphic T-shirt ✓ Hoodies in neutral colours ✓ Cardigan ✓ Waterproof jacket ✓ Trendy jacket for layering ✓ Blazer ✓ Trusty denim jeans ✓ A dress you can wear day to night ✓ A pop of colour…

Perfect pour Latte art is just the cherry on top when it comes to ordering your go-to from your favourite coffee shop. But it’s also just as easy to perfect at home. Ernie Jr. Fernandez, latte art extraordinaire and winner of the Nostos UK All-Star Latte Art Smackdown last year, is here to teach you an easy and adorable way to spruce up your morning brew with this step-by-step kitty design. ● For more, please follow @ernie.jr_ on Instagram 1. Draw a circle with your milk foam in the middle of the cup. You can do this by either free-pouring or using a spoon to scoop the foam. 2. Using any stick with a pointy tip – you can even use a toothpick – draw two lines from the top…

Needing to use the toilet a lot, feeling thirstier, feeling more hungry or more tired than usual, losing weight without trying, blurred eyesight, genital itching and wounds taking longer to heal are common symptoms of type 1 diabetes. These occur because some or all of the glucose stays in the blood and isn’t being used for energy. No individual is the same. ● Visit: diabetes.org.uk Disclaimer: Medical advice provided is for interest only and should never be substituted for seeing a doctor or seeking medical advice. If you have specific medical concerns please seek advice from a qualified medical professional.…

With Jai Ghelani, Principal Dentist at Smmmile in Nottingham (smmmile.store) Tell-tale signs Q I’ve started spitting blood after brushing my teeth. Why is this happening to me? Jolene, Castleford A One potential reason for spitting blood after brushing is if you’re brushing your teeth too hard, which can damage your gums. It’s important to choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and use gentle, circular motions to lessen irritation. However, a more serious sign could be that you have gum disease. Gum disease occurs when the gums become inflamed and bleeding is a sign of this inflammation happening. Schedule an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible if you experience any unexplained bleeding so they can assess your oral health, identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment to effectively treat the…

Rock Key Storage Box, £5.99, Amazon Do you need to leave a spare key outside the front of your house, but think that someone will nab it? This rock storage box may help. Place your key inside the sliding base and put it outside your home. This works especially well amongst other rocks or stones that you may have on your path or front garden. It will blend in perfectly. Say goodbye to thieves and your worries, too. Can you believe this? We’ve all heard about some pretty strange fad diets, but we think this one tops them all… During his lifetime, Frenchman Michel Lotito, also known as Mr Mangetout, ate metal. Consuming 18 bicycles, seven TV sets, a pair of skis and 15 supermarket trolleys, his habits were strange.…

Stringing up balloons and putting the finishing touches to a birthday cake, the scene is set. ‘Happy birthday!’ banners adorn the living room, a pile of carefully-wrapped presents are sitting ready to be torn open and a buffet of party food is ready for the guests. But this isn’t your average child’s birthday party. This is for your dog. Yes, that’s right – because for most pet owners, their fur babies are up there with human children. In fact, a 2023 survey by OnePoll for dog food brand Ollie found that four in five respondents who were also parents said that their dog’s wellness was just as important as their child’s – but what makes us go potty for our pets? Six in 10 of us prefer cuddling our pets…

Life can be busy and most of us don’t have time to be slaving over the stove for hours on end. But with Joe Wicks’ new book Feel Good in 15, you can feel your best with easy recipes, workouts and health hacks. ● Joe Wicks’ Feel Good in 15, £22, Amazon Stovetop Plum Crumble Plumble YOU WILL NEED: □ 300g plums, stones removed□ 1 tbsp, plus 20g, demerara sugar□ ½ tsp vanilla extract□ 30g salted butter□ 30g hazelnuts, roughly chopped□ 40g porridge oats□ 20g plain flour□ 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 Add the plums, the tablespoon of sugar and vanilla extract to a small saucepan with two tablespoons of water. Cook over a high heat with the lid on for five minutes, then take off the lid and reduce…

25-31 January ARIES 21 March–20 April Your time is not your own as you find yourself having to look after those who have not been looking after themselves. You need to remember that you are also a priority and take charge of what happens and when. Jealousy with a family member needs you to offer an olive branch, no matter what close ones think or say. Follow your heart for answers. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Something you wanted can be yours, even when you thought it couldn’t. You just need to take control. Romance comes under the spotlight as you begin to feel that you’re taking on what others want, not what your heart is telling you. Come clean to them, not third parties. It’s the…

Hauling yet another family sized pack of Coke into the car, anyone would’ve thought we were having a party. The same could have been said if anyone was to look at our recycling by the end of the week. As there must have been at least 50 tins of bright red full-fat Coke amongst our household waste. Only, I couldn’t stand the stuff. Our eldest Harry, now 17, and twins Charlotte and William, both 13, weren’t keen on fizzy drinks either. There was another culprit. As sitting spread out on the sofa, sipping away, was my partner Bryn, now 48. A sight I had been used to seeing ever since we met at work over 17 years ago, before we’d had the kids. Even though Bryn was roughly 15st when…

Waiting at the foot of the stairs, pure excitement filled the air. After my 13-week early gender scan, me, my partner Marcus, 32, and children Tyrell, nine, and Nyah, four, were desperate to find out if I was having little girl or boy. Taking the results envelope, my sister Danielle, 25, rushed into my bedroom to find a pink or blue T-shirt for the reveal. But appearing at the top of the stairs, she wore a dressing gown instead. ‘You’re having…’ she began. Then, ripping open the gown, she revealed a bright pink T-shirt. ‘A girl!’ Danielle beamed at us. Nyah started squealing while Marcus pulled me in for a hug. But Tyrell didn’t join in. ‘I don’t want a girl!’ he said. Huffing and throwing a tantrum, he was…

Natasha Page is a counsellor, business coach, writer and founder of My Little Therapy Box. She is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is passionate about mental health and supporting others, too. Visit: bacp.co.uk and natashapagemsc.com Will I regret my decision? Q I’ve just found out that I am 12-weeks pregnant. It’s a very unexpected pregnancy and the more that I think about it, the more I realise that I don’t want this. Will I feel guilty forever if I go through with an abortion? Stacey, West Lothian A An unplanned pregnancy is often a time when mixed emotions arise. It sounds like you have been contemplating your options and it's positive you are being honest with yourself and making a decision that…

At first glance, Sheila von Weise had a good life. She was an heiress worth $1.5 million, had plenty of friends and lived the life of a socialite with plenty of holidays and the finer things in life. She lived in the affluent area of Oak Park in Illinois, which she shared with her daughter Heather Mack. Born in October 1995, Heather was the only child of Sheila, 62, and her late husband James – a notable jazz musician and composer. After James passed away in 2006, Sheila was determined to give her daughter the best chance in life. But Heather was prone to violent outbursts and Sheila was known to be afraid of her. Hitting and hurting her mother, police were repeatedly called to their home. In January 2011,…