Table of contents for 11-Nov-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Be a winner! This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This 2 in 1 bowl and strainer is a multifunctional bowl that has an integrated colander. You can rinse, drain, mix and serve food in in one bowl! It’s easy to clean and dishwasher safe. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Cleaning hack Remove fluff from carpets with a squeegee. Abbie Cairnes, Essex Tip of the week Priceless! Just get a two pence piece to rub off any lime scale in the bathroom. Go over it with a cleaning cloth to remove any leftover limescale. This saves on harsh cleaners and is better for the environment. Sian Salsbury, Cradley Heath Oh snap! Avoid the stress and take a photo on…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Harriet Bradley, from the digital healthcare provider Livi (livi.co.uk) Irregular bleeding Q I’ve recently started bleeding in between my periods - not loads, but enough that it’s noticeable. Should I be worried? Katherine, Reading A There are many reasons why you could be bleeding in between your periods. Some causes are nothing to worry about. For example, it’s fairly common if you have recently started taking hormonal contraceptives, or if you have missed taking one of your contraceptive pills. However, you should always speak with your GP if you have any concerns. Bleeding in between periods could also be a sign of a more serious condition, such as a sexually transmitted infection or in rare cases, cancer, so it’s important to get checked out straight away.…

No matter your style or budget, there is a way for you to incorporate leather into your wardrobe. A leather jacket is a staple clothing piece, that can be used all season long. For a cosier look wear a hoodie underneath to give your outfit a rockstar edge. But you don’t have to stick to black to look amazing, different coloured leathers can be a fun twist on tradition too… KEEP YOUR LEGS TOASTY.. Snag is a size-inclusive fashion brand, set up by CEO & Founder, Brie Read, 40, who set up Snag following her own personal experience of struggling to find tights that fit. From only ever using images of real customers across their website and social media, to the development of a unique sizing matrix to guarantee a…

Dr. Bronner’s Cherry Blossom Organic Lip Balm, £3.75, drbronner.co.uk Hydrate lips this winter with the latest lip flavour from Dr. Bronner – Cherry Blossom. With a blend of organic beeswax to provide a protective barrier to the elements, along with organise jojoba, avocado and hemp oils to help with extra moisturisation. Dove Lavender & Chamomile Relaxing Care Foaming Bath Soak, £5.99, Boots Take a moment to unwind on a cold winter’s day, with Dove’s bath soak. Specially made to relieve tired and aching muscles, and leave skin soft and smooth, it’ll be a key step in your skincare routine. Cinnamon Roll Bubble Bar, £5.95, Lush You can now have a cinnamon roll bath thanks to Lush! As part of their Christmas range, this new bubble bar features a warming spice…

Support a small business Do you ever want to indulge in a great wine, whilst reading a tantalising novel, while relaxing in a big bubble bath? Well, Words with Wine has made all of that possible. The small business was started by Anna Smith during lockdown while she spent time reminiscing about her separate book and wine clubs that she missed attending. Every month, Words with Wine will send you the book of the month, along with a full size bottle of wine to enjoy. What’s in the box is a secret until it arrives. You can then head to the online book club to discuss with other subscribers. Non-alcoholic options are also available. • Prices start from £25, available to order from wordswithwine.co.uk HAVE YOU HEARD? MGA Entertainment have…

Gonks are everywhere right now! Stout little fellows with long, bushy beards that cover most of their face. They might look like Santa, but they’re inspired by gnomes and hobgoblins found in Scandinavian and Nordic mythology. They’d make their home in the houses and barns of farms. If they liked the family, they would protect them and their land with fairy-like magic, bringing good fortune. If the family disrespected their land or the gonk’s home, however, they’d become mischievous……

Dr Daron Seukeran, group medical director at skin clinic Sk:n, shares the triggers for a range of skin disorders. Rosacea Common symptoms of rosacea including blushing across the face, burning or stinging when using water or skincare products, and dry skin. Alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine and hot drinks – all indulgent wintery favourites – can trigger symptoms, so avoid these if possible. Acne Acne is a very common skin condition that affects most people at some point in their lives. Often acne improves in the sunshine, which means in winter months it can flare up, so pay extra close attention to your skincare routine. Eczema Eczema is the name for a group of skin conditions that cause dry, irritated skin. It’s often affected by central heating – due to lower…

Hiding up in my bedroom, I binged on a huge bowl of pasta and snacks. After not eating all day, I scoffed during the night. It was a habit I’d gotten into at school. I wouldn’t eat all day, but after dinner, I would gorge until my heart’s content. Unfortunately, I’d always been the biggest in the group, and I didn’t like eating in front of people. Instead, I would fast all day long, and indulge on my own when my mum, Dawn, 52, wasn’t looking. And this habit continued with me into my adult life. Secretly chowing down on pasta and chocolate, my weight crept up. I was deeply unhappy. For years, I was a yo-yo dieter, but nothing ever stuck. By 2015, my life wasn’t in the best…

TOP TIP: Group gifts might be the way forward, instead of getting individual gifts perhaps send a message in the group chat and club together for one big present. This could be anything from books, to a pram. Try your best to make it practical. SEVEN SPECIAL GIFTS: 1. Nappy subscription service, starting from £49.99, JOONE 2. Steiff cosy year bear 2021, £49.90, John Lewis 3. My first hand and foot print kit, £16.95, Dandy Lions Boutique 4.Personalised Prints, starting from £20, Posterhaste 5. Pregnancy care package, prices starting at £8.50, Don’t Buy Her Flowers 6. Personalised polar bear robe, £34, My 1st Years 7. Tree of life engraved birthstone keyring, £11.99, Orli Jewellery…

It’s the new cookbook from James Martin that everyone’s been waiting for! BUTTER (Quadrille, RRP £22) features over 130 recipes that celebrates one of the chef’s favourite ingredients. James presents new dishes and classics – from savoury delights to sweet treats. Highlighting British dairy farmers, milk, cheese and butter specialists, James also take you through how to make butter. Treat of the week Corn on the cob with chilli lime butter Serves: 6 □ 6 corn on the cob□ 50ml olive oil FOR THE CHILLI LIME BUTTER □ 200g butter, softened□ 2 chillies, diced□ Zest and juice of 2 limes□ 1 tablespoon chipotle paste□ 6 spring onions, sliced□ A few sprigs of coriander, leaves picked and chopped□ A few sprigs of mint, leaves picked and chopped□ Sea salt and freshly ground…

STAR LETTER If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

Swiveling around in the hairdressers chair, I ran my fingers through my freshly curled hair. ‘My hair looks great, thank you,’ I replied staring at myself in the mirror. I had decided to have a pamper day in preparation for my friends’ joint birthday party later that evening. There were going to be 10 of us altogether, and I wanted to feel my best. It was 9 November 2019. I was really excited to go out and celebrate. When I got home I picked out my outfit for the evening. Touching up my make up, I looked out of the window as my lift was ready to drop me off at a local pub to meet my friends for pre-drinks. I text my mum, Sharon, 51, letting her I know…

Rhiannon Spurgeon is a coach, mentor, author of Grief Without Guilt, and founder of Totally Awesome Women’s Network (visit rhiannonspurgeon.com) Festive grief Q This will be the first Christmas my children and I will be without my husband since he died in February, and I am dreading it. How can we celebrate? We’re all still so angry cancer took him from us. Jill, Berkshire A It’s not easy, but letting go of that anger will make a huge impact on your lives, health and happiness. Focusing on what you’re grateful to have in your life might help. Some days, writing down one thing you’re grateful for can feel almost impossible, other days writing 10 seems easy. Write them before you go to bed, and read them when you wake up…

Flicking white flakes off my shoulder, I sighed. I’d suffered with scalp psoriasis since I’d been at uni, and I was good at managing it. But flare-ups got me down. I tried not to let it get to me. When it first happened, I’d been so self-conscious of it. But I learnt not to wear dark colours, and I got into the habit of going to the bathroom regularly to wipe down any dead skin. At least it’s only on my scalp, I thought. But when my dad was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer four years ago, my world came crumbling down around me. Being told Dad might only have a few months to live was heartbreaking and stressful. Thankfully, Dad is still with us today. But his diagnosis…

Grabbing my camera, my cute seven-year-old Labradoodle Reagan was instantly at my feet. ‘Hang on now, Reagan,’ I chuckled to myself, ‘I’ve got to get the shot ready first!’ But ever the poser, Reagan was ready and waiting. And he’d been this way since he was young. Knowing that the camera meant a few treats, he was always happy to oblige when it came to taking a few snaps of him. My husband Eric, 61, and I first got him back in 2014, from a breeder near our home in Oregon. Preparing for a child-sized void in our life after our first foster grandkids were adopted by their forever families, we knew we needed a four-legged friend to keep us company. The pair of them bonded instantly And as we…

Co-owners of online baby retailer Little Bundle Box, Fiona Atchison and Debbie Harvey-Evans, have noted a shift in baby shower buying trends during the last year. They said: 26% of purchases in the last financial year were by men. An increase of almost 9% since last year. We found that predominately, those purchases were unisex in nature tending to veer towards more neutral colours. Perhaps due to baby showers being held before the gender reveal. The average spend was between £50 to £80. We find our women purchasers like to mix and match items to make up their own special gift box. About 63% of our female buyers will include popular items such as a mum to be pamper set, chocolates, sparkling wine as well as the more traditional baby…

Unzipped glass bowl, £25, redcandy.co.uk This bowl is a great way to store anything from sweets to crisps. Just pop it on your side table and your favourite snacks will only be an arm’s reach away! Verdict: GENIUS! Smarty pants! Why the long face mug set, £28, redcandy.co.uk This delightfully abstract mug set is sure to be a winner with friends and family that like a more unusual artistic flair in their kitchen! Verdict: BONKERS! Picasso wannabe Verdict: BONKERS! The paw-fect gift! Personalised pet cushion, £17.99, firebox.com Pay tribute to your fur babies by turning their heads into adorable personalised cushions. Curl up on the sofa or even put it on their bed for a laugh! Croissant cushion, £16, redcandy.co.uk Ooh la la! The Croissant Cushion is here to cuddle…

Making MONSTERS Heavily pregnant Kristen Henderson, 35, had already named her unborn baby girl. She had chosen Loryn Brooke for her daughter and couldn’t wait for her arrival. She already had a son, Clayton Chambers, eight, from a previous relationship but this would be her first child with husband Christopher, 42. Kristen was excited about the new baby. It was 2015, Kristen and Christopher had moved from Michigan to Alabama where they stayed with Kristen’s mum, Carol Jean Smallwood. It was a busy family home. Kristen’s dad also lived there – along with Kristen’s sister Kelly, her husband and their one year old son, Eli. The Henderson couple had been married less than a year but their relationship was already on the rocks. In June 2015, Kristen finally kicked Christopher out…

www.clairepetulengro.tv Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April You like to make up your own mind, which is why you are not listening to the good words of advice which others have been giving you. Time visiting places from your past seems to have had more of a negative effect on you, than a good one. Turn this around and learn from what you went through. Acceptinghelp this week makes the impossible, possible. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May The things you learn this week are what can and will change your life for the better. Don’t ignore or shut out information which comes into your possession. Anxiety regarding what went wrong professionally is what can power you to put things on an even better path.…