Table of contents for 8-Dec-2022_Double issue in Pick Me Up!

This week, our festive tip of the week will receive a great new product from Addis. Ideal for storage or composting food waste, the 18L capacity caddy is a kitchen essential. With an easy-access flip-top lid, and carry handle, it can be used as a bin or a storage alternative. It’s also dishwasher safe, so can be easily cleaned to get rid of bin smells. To make life easier, visit: addis.co.uk It’s snowing style! I always make Christmas features of my current ornaments by adding glittery baubles and beads to vases and even wine glasses. It makes a classy decoration, and keeps your house in line with the same theme as your tree, too. Lisa Adams, West Midlands It’s a wrap Use a festive tablecloth to wrap a very large…

Christmas has always been my favourite time of year. And by August 2018, it was already on my mind. Sat waiting in the car, I checked my watch. My son Archie, then 16, was playing piano at an event in Newcastle, and I was waiting for him to finish. Should we go to the pantomime or cinema this year? I thought. Only, as I brushed my hand down my neck, I felt a lump. Maybe it’s a swollen gland… I got home and asked my husband Simon, 51, to feel it. ‘That doesn’t feel right,’ he said. ‘You should get it checked.’ So, the next day I called my GP surgery. ‘I’m going to refer you to Spire Washington private hospital,’ the doctor said. ‘They will be able to test…

Gathering a pile of anything with the word ‘twin’ on it, I quickly dumped it all in the bin. Finding a festive bauble, I stared at it before smashing it alongside all of the other items. Baby twins first Christmas… There was no point in celebrating any more – my heart was broken. After meeting my husband Chase back in 2017, in Pittsburgh, it wasn’t long before the usual conversation of wanting a family came up – in fact it was after two dates. Only, after trying to conceive for three long years, with the help of IVF, our hopes of being parents felt as if they were slipping away. Taking home tests was a familiar scene, and due to the fertility medication that I was on, the test would…

‘Tis the season for all things fun, and if you’re after something a little bolder on your fingertips, then the Christmas collection from Elegant Touch may be just for you. These really will see you dashing through the snow! £6.50 each, available from Superdrug Santa Claws: The main man himself and his trusty red-nosed sidekick – now on your nails! Cute, short and wearable, team this mani with your favourite festive jumper and you’re ready for the big day. Cinnamon Spice: The ultimate festive spice is now the ultimate festive nail – complete with good-enough-to-eat gingerbread cookie designs and sparkly gold accents. Just Chillin’: Baby, it’s cold outside! This icy design will bring the North Pole straight to your snowy fingertips.…

Gift of nothing, £4.99, findmeagift.co.uk It’s time to take someone quite literally when they say that they don’t want anything for Christmas this year – it’s one of the most annoying sayings right? But did they ever think that you would take their word for it? Wrapped in plastic, this gift quite literally is the gift of nothing! The perfect solution for those picky family members or to win at secret Santa. It’s a gift that will certainly get people talking… Verdict: GENIUS! Two can play that game It’s twinkle town We all like to think that our Christmas lights are the best – twinkling lights and reindeer out front. But nothing will ever beat The Amazing Grace Christmas House, US. Lighting up the neighbourhood, these residents take decorating to new…

Gathering around the Christmas tree, I couldn’t have been any happier. With my wife Pauline, five children, 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, the festivities were always something to look forward to. Only, I couldn’t help but think that it would be the last Christmas Day that I’d get to share with them all – especially after what I had put them through… Back in December 2005, enjoying a weekend in Rome with Pauline, I was snapping pictures of the Sistine Chapel, crooking my neck to look at the ceiling paintings. Carrying on our day seeing the tourist spots before heading home, there was pain in my stomach that I couldn’t shake – almost as if I had pulled a muscle. And with turbulence on the aeroplane, every single jolt made…

Like many suburban towns, Swartz Creek, Michigan, was known for its simplicity. Neighbouring a bigger city Flint, the small-town was filled with conventional Dollar Tree stores, acres of farmland, and a large mall that locals would rely on for amenities. That was something that 25-year-old Kevin Bacon knew all too well. Only, with an eye for designer clothes, often seen carrying a bag, and openly revealing his sexuality to family and friends, Kevin didn’t want to fall into the town’s bleakness. Instead, working his way up from a receptionist to a hair stylist, he wanted to bring colour to what he thought was a dingy town. Dying his hair all sorts of shades, he had a talent for hairdressing and applying makeup, too, something his family had encouraged him to…

Spending a magical Christmas inside, with a festive feast, it was a scene of pure bliss. Especially as me and my husband John, 50, could finally spend our first Christmas with a miracle of our own – our daughter Evelyn. After a five year journey trying to conceive, alongside tests, operations, and a range of mixed emotions, I found out I was pregnant with twins in 2018 – we were over the moon. Only, after being diagnosed with cervical stenosis and having to have one of my fallopian tubes removed, doctors weren’t sure if both embryos would survive. And after finding out that I was now only carrying one baby, we didn’t know what the future would hold. Yet, after a difficult nine months of pregnancy with stitches put in…

Keeping a Christmas Promise by Jo Thomas, £8.99, Amazon While on holiday 25 years ago, Freya and her three best friends created a bucket list. The future seemed bright, full of hope and most importantly, guaranteed. Now, Freya and two friends are travelling back to Iceland in memory of the friend they lost, determined to fulfil her dream of seeing the Northern lights. Only, an avalanche leaves them stranded… On the First Day of Christmas by Faith Hogan, £13.99, WHSmith When Liv says goodbye to her colleagues and finishes work for the holidays, she’s looking forward to Christmas with her boyfriend. Only, before she makes it home, she’s called back to work. Does she do what she always does and put herself second? Or will she say no and begin…

HAVE YOU HEARD? It’s the ultimate musical goal – Christmas Number One. And this year, none other than Basil Brush has set his sights on it! Boom! Boom! It’s Christmas Again! is out now, and it’s a treat for the ears and the eyes – with icons like Mr Blobby, Zippy, George and Bungle and Muffin the Mule cameoing on the festive video. Plus, proceeds from the fun Christmas single will go to Save the Children and the Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice. But Basil’s not the only contender – turn to page 78 to read more about Marco’s bid for the top slot, with his Christmas/World Cup mash-up, inspired by his daughter Mila. But whoever you choose to back – have a holly jolly Christmas! • Boom! Boom! It’s…

Showcase your Christmas presents in style this year with fun, festive gift wrap!…

There’s nothing more satisfying, and festive, than making your own Christmas decs – and thanks to Hobbycraft, you can get crafting for less than a tenner! • Please visit: hobbycraft.co.uk Decorate ceramic baubles □ Anita’s Gold Sparkling Star Outline Stickers, £1.30 □ Anita’s Gold Lowercase Alphabet Outline Stickers, £1.30 □ Ceramic Baubles with Jute 3 Pack, £4 □ Gold Metallic Home Craft Acrylic Paint 60ml, £2 □ Royal & Langnickel Foam Brushes 3 Pack, £1.30 1 Start by spray painting the baubles in your chosen colours, following the instructions on the packaging (when using spray paints make sure you’re in a well-ventilated space – preferably outside). Leave until completely dry. 2 Once dry, add on the festive stickers of your choice, in any design you choose. 3 Thread with twine…

Allergy troubles Q We always go to my mother-in-law’s for Christmas but she’s just adopted two long-haired cats and I’m allergic. I know she will be offended if we don’t go and celebrating at our house isn’t an option as we live in a flat. What can I do? Stacey, Dundee A Ask your mother-in-law if she could keep the cats out of the sitting room and dining room for a few days before your visit Ask her if she can please thoroughly clean and damp dust to remove any cat hairs or dander from the house, preferably using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum cleaner. Before you arrive, take a long-acting, non-sedating antihistamine such as fexofenadine 120mg – which needs a doctor’s prescription. Anti-allergy nasal spray or eye drops…

We all have a film that we play over and over on the run up to Christmas – from family feel-goods to nostalgic laughs. Most traditional movies have pretty memorable frocks, too. Dress according to your well-loved favourites… THE HOLIDAY LOVE ACTUALLY THE GRINCH THE PRINCESS SWITCH Top tip To achieve a royal look, wear a monochrome outfit and think about tying in classy accessories HOME ALONE…

Fiona Yassin is the founder and clinical director at The Wave Clinic, and a specialist in trauma treatment, eating disorders, mental health and addiction treatment for teenagers and families. (thewaveclinic.com) Eating struggles Q In the last year my daughter has been diagnosed with anorexia, and as a mum I’m trying to be as reasonable as possible. Only, I know that she is going to struggle at the dinner table. What can I do to help her? Janet, Penzance A I am ever so sorry to hear this. As we know anorexia is rarely about the food on the plate and is, in fact, a disorder born from anxiety. Hats off to you Mum for continuing to get through this. At Christmas there’s a big focus on food, so you are…

Carefully tying up the bright red ribbon, I admired my handiwork proudly. With its pristine tissue paper, vintage tag and festive bow, you would never be able to tell that this present was secondhand! Christmas was fast approaching, and I’d started my gift wrapping early. I’d already managed to bag some Calvin Klein socks, a Ralph Lauren shirt and a beautiful brown wool coat for my husband, Alex, 32. He was going to absolutely love them – I already couldn’t wait for his reaction. Only, they hadn’t broken the bank… his gifts were from the charity shop! I’d spent around 75% less than if I’d bought the items brand-new, so we could use the extra money on a trip or dinner together in the new year. I’ve been thrifting since…

Do you need to reply to that all important party RSVP? It’s a good job Primark are pulling out all the stops for you to dress to impress quite literally from head to toe. Sparkles and sequins – the perfect recipe for a party fit……

FOR HER FOR HIM FOR KIDS FOR PETS Don’t forget your furry family members!…

Striking a match, a bright flame lit up the living room. Carefully, I lit the first Hanukkah candle on our family menorah. Being Jewish, my family didn’t celebrate Christmas – but still, Hanukkah and the festive season was one of my favourite times of year. Lighting the candles, eating traditional doughnuts, getting presents over the eight days… it was truly magical. And on Christmas Day, I’d still sit down with Mum and Dad for a traditional yuletide turkey roast (minus the pigs in blankets!) – so I got the best of both worlds. After all, one of the best things about the festive season was the food! Sweet or savoury, I devoured it all. Mum and I would pore over festive food catalogues, ordering delicious picky bits for family gatherings.…

Christmas pet dangers Watch out for these pet hazards on your shopping list this Christmas… Christmas is a time for fun with friends and family and that includes the four-legged variety! However, with so much going on, the last thing we need is to make an unscheduled visit to the emergency vet. Helen Harrison, vet advisor at TVM, has shared her top tips on keeping pets safe over the festive season. • To find out more visit: tvm-uk.com Chocolate Chocolate is abundant at this time of year but never give it to your pet – it contains the toxic stimulant theobromine, which can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Make sure that tin of Quality Street is kept well out of the way on a high shelf! Grapes and dried…

FOR HER FOR HIM FOR KIDS FOR PETS…

Beside our Christmas tree adorned with bright lights and decorations, there was another festive tradition taking up the whole of the living room. Something me and my husband Mike, 63, had been preparing for months on end. And it was time for the great reveal in December last year… A gigantic recreation of Old London Bridge made entirely from LEGO! With 400,000 pieces placed together, we stood back in amazement – our gigantic masterpiece was ready. And in its place had been 26 previous annual LEGO Christmas projects – from polar bears to an Alpine resort. Stemming all the way back to when we gave birth to our youngest Christopher, now 24. With our other children, Thomas, now 30, and Holly, now 27, becoming toddlers, and their friends coming over…

Seeing the look of sheer elation on my little girl’s face, I chuckled. At two years old, Olive was really getting into the festive spirit. She carefully put a mince pie on a plate, and I placed a can of beer next to a pint glass. ‘Don’t forget a carrot for Rudolph,’ she said. She was so excited she was bouncing off the walls, but it was lovely to see her experiencing the magic. Her little sister Florence was just nine months old, so my fiancé Dan, 38, and I could focus all our attention on Olive in the build-up to the big day. Popping Olive and Flo in their Christmas pyjamas, we snuggled up while I read them a festive story in bed. ‘When I wake up, will Father…

JOHN FRIEDA SHINE SPRAY, £6.99, BOOTS We put our tresses through a lot over Christmas and New Year, so it’s important that we take as much care of them as we can. This innovative Shine Spray is designed to detangle damp hair, protect against heat up to 200OC, and leave you with a serious shine. The perfect multi-tasker, you can use this on clean, damp hair and spray throughout, or apply a few spritzes on dry hair to unleash an extra dose of glimmering radiance. MAVALA MAKORÉ, £5.80, NAIL POLISH DIRECT Red is the colour the season and this new shade from Mavala is truly a Christmas cracker. Makoré is the perfect deep, berry red for December. Great for day-to-day wear and for any parties you have coming up! With…

Watching my one-year-old daughter gazing in wonder at the lights on the Christmas tree, I placed a protective hand over my stomach. Born on 1 December, it was our festive baby’s second Christmas, and seeing her start to understand a bit more of what was going on was magical. But then we got the best Christmas gift we could have wished for. ‘I can’t believe next year, we’ll be a family of four,’ I smiled to my husband Wesley, 39, as we helped an excited Savannah open her presents. ‘I know, it’s a Christmas miracle,’ he chuckled. Finding out I was pregnant again so soon after having Savannah had been a shock. But Wes and I were over the moon at the news. Going to our 20-week scan at Queen…

LaplandUK, Berkshire We all know that Santa lives in the blistering cold snow, calling Lapland his home. But did you know that you can experience the magic of Christmas in the UK? With a forest transformed into a snowy winter wonderland scene, walk through a guided theatrical tour looking out for your favourite festive characters. There are plenty of activities for your little ones to enjoy – from toy making, gingerbread decorating, ice skating, and even meeting the husky dogs! Of course you get to meet Father Christmas himself, taking a special gift home with you. Lapland is an immersive experience that you will never forget – believe in the magic of Christmas. • Dates run until 24 December. Tickets start at £59, visit: tickets.laplanduk.co.uk Father Christmas at the Eden…

Hand-poured in their South London studio, The Flora Lab creates wonderful scents like no other. As we roll into the festive season, Sophie Parker, founder of The Flora Lab, explains how she and the team get into the Christmas spirit. • Please visit: thefloralab.com What led to the founding of The Flora Lab? It’s always been my dream to set up my own business – my grandma was self-employed and has been my biggest inspiration. While walking the streets of Buenos Aires on a sabbatical from my life in the beauty industry, the idea for The Flora Lab came to be. I wanted to create something that looked beautiful, was affordable yet did not compromise on sustainability or performance. In the run up to Christmas, what festive scents do you…

With Christmas upon us, it’s time to whip out our hosting skills. Whether you’re after a savoury centrepiece or a mouthwatering showstopper for dessert, Princes have you covered. Princes brands include Trex and Princes Fruit and they're on hand to help you have a holly, jolly Christmas! Apple and Cinnamon Bundt Cake COOKING TIME: 50 MINS YOU WILL NEED: □ 150ml Princes pure apple juice□ 150g raisins□ A little butter and plain flour, for greasing the tin□ 115ml rapeseed oil□ 225g caster sugar□ 3 large eggs□ 3 tbsp crème fraiche□ 315g plain flour□ 2½ tsp baking powder□ 1 tsp ground cinnamon FOR THE ICING: □ 60g icing sugar, sieved□ 1 tbsp Princes pure apple juice HOW TO: 1 Pour the apple juice over the raisins and allow to soak for…

MOSTLY A: The Nice List Congrats, you’ve made it onto Santa’s Nice List! He’s been watching and is very impressed. You always make sure to plan ahead and spread the festive cheer wherever you go. You’re on track to receive everything on your list, so keep up the good work! MOSTLY B: Still deciding… The jury’s out as to whether you’ll be receiving a full stocking or a lump of coal this Christmas. You like everything merry and bright, but you won’t be taking the title of Mrs Claus just yet. Don’t worry – there’s still time to get in Santa’s good books, so take note… MOSTLY C: The Naughty List Bah humbug! Who knew that Scrooge still existed in the 21st century? You don’t see what all the fuss…

www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April The stars bless your career. You see what you need to go back over, and if this means going back into the educational system in some way, so be it. You’re clever enough to realise that not even you can know everything. Money you were about to give up hope of getting is given the go ahead – just in time for you have these two weeks the way you want them! Enjoy it, Aries. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You’re ready to take back control of where your life is going. You tried it the way others wanted you to, and it didn’t work out. To continue to invest in what doesn’t make you happy is not the sign you were…

Launching myself closer to the TV, it was clear everyone was about to be on their feet… ‘It’s coming home!’ my friends and family screamed, jumping up and down in the garden, sporting their best football shirts. Being a massive football fan, supporting Arsenal in the Premier League, and of course England in the World Cup, I was no stranger to the chants, songs, and cheering that came with watching games. And luckily for me, growing up studying drama, loving all sorts of music and knowing that I had a pretty decent singing voice, I’d be the first to get people on their feet. Only, after welcoming my baby daughter Mila into the world last year, and with my fiancé Anna having a terrible singing voice, my vocal chords had…