Table of contents for 31-Oct-2019 in Pick Me Up!

Looking from the outside, I had the perfect life. A good marriage, a good career and a perfect home. But then suddenly, everything fell apart. I had a nervous breakdown and was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. I had no idea what had happened or why. Thankfully, I had my family there to support me. My now ex-husband, my daughter Natalie, my parents Joan and Allen, and my brother Keith - they were all there, helping me get better. When I was discharged, I had to see a psychiatrist. I really struggled to deal with my illness, and I turned to alcohol and prescribed drugs to help. So, I was forced to give up my job. And so, about 18 months later, I decided that I needed something to…

Painful problem Q I’ve got bunions on my feet that are really painful. What should I do? Vicky, Birmingham. A Bunions can be a result of wearing shoes that are too tight but in some cases, they are due to an inherited or medical condition. They can be symptom free but at times they can also be very painful. Treatments may relieve the symptoms but not the progression of bunions. There are a few things you can do to help alleviate the pain like wearing wide shoes, avoiding heels and using bunion pads. If your symptoms are not improving after using home treatments, I advise discussing with your doctor. During a consultation, your GP will assess the severity of the bunion and will give you appropriate advice to help ease…

Sat on a sun lounger and sipping on a delicious cocktail, I stretched my legs out in front of me and wiggled my toes. ‘This is the life,’ I smiled, leaning back. ‘Cheers to you,’ my friend Lisa, 49, grinned, clinking glasses with me. It was July this year, and Lisa and I had gone on a girls’ holiday to Lanzarote to celebrate my birthday. We were sharing a private rented room in the San Francisco II Apartments in Puerto del Carmen, and had spent the last few days lounging around the pool and soaking up the sun. Now, on 2 July, we were enjoying some pre-drinks on the patio before heading out to dinner at a local restaurant. After getting dressed, I rubbed my forehead. ‘Everything OK?’ Lisa asked.…

Dipping my brush into the red paint, I started to draw gushes of blood coming out of my eyes. Using my entire upper body, I was recreating a gory horror look in time for Halloween. For two years, I’d been using my face to recreate paintings, scenarios and films. I’ve always loved art and makeup, so my experiments just kept getting bigger. I studied makeup at college, so it’s always been a passion of mine. When it came to my client’s makeup, I stuck to the basics, but when it came to my own, I always liked to experiment. Once I finished college, I changed my career goal and begun an arts foundation degree at Coventry College. Although I love makeup, I’ve always been more into the artistic side, so…

Expert Cathy Crewdson from NetVoucherCodes. co.uk provides five  tips on how to be a savvy shopper during the era of shrinkflation... 1. Set a budget Having a certain amount of money to spend will encourage you to look at the best deals or alternatives and stay clear from the expensive products in store. 2. Make a list Stick to the products that you need to buy, but allow yourself to look at different brands and varieties to find a good deal. 3. Use coupons Quite often, coupons are personalised and based off your shopping habits, so they can save you a lot of money in areas that you already spend! 4. Supermarkets own It’s common knowledge now that supermarkets own brands can often be just as good, if not better, than…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Try not to give in to temper tantrums. It’s what others want and will lead to your character being further assassinated, by those watching from the sidelines. Things you write on forms at this time are more important than you think, so read them through and get professional advice as is necessary. A family reunion should not be missed. Someone you want to see will be there. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Finances may not be as predictable as you had hoped, so don’t lend, give or spend money, that you may need to use before this month is over. It can save you from looking under prepared and unprofessional if you are prepared. The chance to do someone else’s job, could become…

As I watered my rhododendrons, I heard the familiar click of the kettle reaching boiling point from inside. ‘Perfect timing,’ I smiled. I made myself a cuppa and settled into a garden chair to enjoy the warm afternoon sun. But within minutes, I heard a terrifying screech from the back of my garden. What the hell? I thought. Investigating, I saw it was just a pair of local cats messing about. One was brown, and the other was black with white markings on him. I heard a screech and saw a commotion Shooing them off, I went back to my tea, and relished the peace. After my husband of 17 years and I divorced five years earlier, I’d taken it pretty hard. I’d given up my job as a hairdresser…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Maximise your storage space with the Addis under the bed shoe organiser (£11.99). With viewing windows to easily identify shoes, the organiser holds up to 9 pairs and includes a pull-out handle for ease of access. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk The ghostess with the mostest Here’s my easy Halloween themed cupcakes. I mixed some orange frosting and then added some Halloween jelly sweets to the top. There were witches faces, broomsticks and bats. The kids loved them! Alexandra Low, Halesowen Bone Appetit! This is a quick and easy trick for a Halloween party. Wrap some ‘bloody gauze’ around kids’ cartons of juice! Mary Hadley, Cradley Heath Squash goals! My son…

1 Ovarian cancer isn’t common. ☐ True ☐ False 2 Symptoms include constantly feeling bloated. ☐ True ☐ False 3 The exact cause is unknown. ☐ True ☐ False 4 Symptoms can be hard to recognise. ☐ True ☐ False 5 The earlier the diagnosis, the better the chance of a cure. ☐ True ☐ False 1 FALSE Ovarian cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women, with around 20 new cases every day in the UK. 2 TRUE As well as bloating, other symptoms include a swollen tummy, feeling full quickly when eating and discomfort in your tummy or pelvic area. 3 TRUE Like many cancers, the exact cause is unknown although some factors may increase your risk, such as age and a family history.…

£1,000 in prizes to be unlocked This promotion is not one you’d leaf – enjoy the chance to unlock Bo x Bonanza games every day and cash prizes up to £1,000! Go to the Pick Me Up! Bingo promotions page and flip the leaf each day between 21 and 30 October to opt in and discover how you can enter the daily prize draws. Opt in and minimum £1 wager required. A spooky new promo You could make it a Full House of horrors with Pick Me Up! Bingo’s new promotion, Play It Ghoul. There’s a haunted castle experience for four to be won, plus Box Bonanza games and cash prizes! Simply opt in and play £5 or more on any Bingo games between 24 October and 31 October to enter…

If you want to take your face painting to the next level, here are four of Mariah’s top tips! 1. Always start with a fresh clean face. Don’t have any product on your face and avoid oil cleansers and moisturisers beforehand. 2. Use a mix of body paint and acrylic paint to boost the vibrancy. Apply in thin light layers to build up colour and avoid flaking. 3. Make sure you take regular breaks and have easy to eat snacks nearby. I usually rest for five minutes every hour or so. 4. If someone is looking to do work like this, you need to have serious dedication and a passion for art to pull it off.…

Pulling out the plug, I lifted my little boy out of the bath. ‘Let’s get you into bed then,’ I smiled. Kian, two, had always been such a happy baby. It was 11 July, and having been through the exhausting process of teething already, he was an angel at bedtime. ‘Batman!’ he cried, pointing to his favourite T-shirt as I pulled it out of the cupboard. It was one of the few words he knew - obsessed with the dark knight. When he was born prematurely in 2016, I’d had such a scare. I’d almost lost him. But he’d been my miracle baby, and pulled through. But that only meant that now, even though he was perfectly happy and healthy, I doted on him, giving him everything he wanted. Pulling…

Send us your stories and photos, including all namesand ages, a daytime phone number and full address.E-mailhello @pickmeupmag.co.uk WRITE TO Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Emma-ChrisWay, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7JU PHONE 01174400607 FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com TI Media Limited reserves the right to reuse any submission sent to Pick Me Up! magazine, in any format or medium. Unfortunately, we can’t return photos without a stamped sae. Letters/photos must not be sent to any other publication.…

Hannah Martin, founder ofTalented Ladies Club, is on a mission to unlock the potential of women and start them on their nextadventure. Visit talentedladiesclub.com Finally getting started Q I really struggle to motivate myself. I have all these big plans for the weekend, but I just end up on the sofa. I have goals in life but don’t know how to get there, so give up. What’s wrong with me? Liv, Bristol A Sometimes the goals we set ourselves are so big or feel so far away that we don’t really believe we can reach them. Or, like you, we don’t know where to start to achieve them. To help make your goals more motivating, start writing them down. Be specific about what you want to do, and give yourself…

In April last year, I started to feel a little trickle when I went for a run. I loved to go jogging and you’d catch me out in the park running four or five times a week. Training for half marathons was my one passion. I knew something was really wrong I’d never had any problems with my pelvic floor before - even after having two girls. As I flicked through the television, I saw a sanitary towel advertisement flash up. ‘It’s perfectly normal,’ the woman on the screen said, about her trickling bladder. It must be my age, I thought. I started wearing pantyliners when I ran, but quickly it got progressively worse. Hold your pelvic floor, Sarah!I told myself jogging. I began wearing thicker pads, and my running…

Q I keep getting a shooting pain in my chest. It comes and goes but it’s really painful. Should I go to a doctor? Stephen, Cardiff. A The simple answer is yes. You should always go to a doctor if you experience chest pain. Symptoms like chest pain can be the result of several medical conditions. Some are more serious than others and can even be life threatening. Therefore, it is essential to seek professional advice. Different causes of chest pain include heart related pain, stomach problems, anxiety and panic attacks. It might not be serious, but your GP may refer you for further investigations depending on different criteria including your symptoms, your medical history and family history. These investigations will help to rule out any condition that needs medical…

Peeling my eyes open to the sound of screaming babies, I checked the time - it was 4am. ‘Feeding time,’ I rolled over and grumbled to my husband Liam, 34. By 7am, Liam had headed off to work, and it was time to start the hour-and-a-half process of getting Maddison, Jaxon, Alexa and Sienna dressed, as-well-as waking up my eldest son, Mackenzie, 12. ‘Mackenzie, get up, now!’ I screamed, whilst bending Alexa’s leg into her onesie and keeping a watchful eye on the other three. With four babies under four, it was just another hectic morning, but I counted my blessings, as it hadn’t always been like this. I first met Liam about 13-years-ago, whilst celebrating my 23rd birthday in Cardiff. We ended up in the same pub when he…

Recreate this easy bloody devil from celebrity makeup artist, Stacey Whittaker. @staceywhittakermakeupartist. 1 Do your foundation and bronzer 2 like usual. Using a red eyeshadow and a fluffy blending brush, blend all over your lid and bring down under the eye. 3 Using a purple eyeshadow, create definition in your crease and on the eye socket. 4 Using either glitter or highlighter, dust over the brow bone and bring under the eye and in your teardrop. 5 Apply lashes or mascara. 6 Apply a black lip liner to your lips. 7 Apply your favourite berry red lipstick. 8 Using yellow and purple eyeliner, create fake veins under the eyes and down the neck. 9 Finish with fake blood and red contact lenses (optional). Do you need beauty advice? Write to…

Zoo-tacula This October, Marwell Zoo in Hampshire will be home to some frightening new species as little monsters are invited to join in some ‘monster fun’ around its 140-acre park. Guests can take part in a free monster trail and track down 12 hidden monsters around the zoo. Other complementary activities include broomstick þying with Marwell’s resident and wise old wizard Lowedolf, where children can earn their level four licence, and spooky story telling with Esme the friendly witch. For a keepsake to take home, wand decorating or monster making are available for £1 each. Tickets from £17 26 October to 3 November www.marwell.org.uk/zoo/ School of sorcery This Halloween, Haddon Hall is set to host a spooky series of events, designed to entertain and enlighten adults and children alike. With…