Table of contents for 7-Mar-2024 in Pick Me Up!

Hearing laughter from the living room next door, I popped my head around the corner. My daughter Jessica, then five, and my son Jack, then eight, were glued to my phone as they listened to a voice all too familiar in our household. ‘Hello, I’m Bean… Mr. Bean!’ the voice exclaimed. Glancing at the screen, a man dressed in a tweed blazer wiggled his eyebrows. With Jessica and Jack always watching Mr. Bean, they grew obsessed with a Mr. Bean impersonator named Lewis, 27, on TikTok. ‘Mum, it’s Mr. Bean!’ Jessica exclaimed. ‘Can you say hello from me? It’s a live video.’ ‘Go on then,’ I smiled. But to me, Lewis did not look like Mr. Bean at all. He was wearing a hoodie which said ‘Bean Reborn’ on it.…

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Walking down the aisle, I spied my man waiting for me at the end. Smiling, my fiancé Jordan, now 29, watched as I made my way through the magical Alnwick Castle, dressed in a velvet burgundy gown on 28 September last year. He looks so handsome, I thought, gazing at his suit. Taking his hand in mine, we couldn’t stop smiling. The thought of spending the rest of our lives together didn’t scare me – we’d already been through so much as a couple and it only made us stronger. ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife,’ the celebrant smiled. Only, I never expected to have a husband. After all, I never fell in love with a man. Joining a LGBTQ+ WhatsApp group back in 2018, I wanted to find…

What’s trending Have you got a sweet tooth? You might love chomping on dolly mixture, fizzy cola bottles or a fruit chew in a cheeky Pick ‘n’ Mix, but what if your home could smell like a sweet shop all day long? Well, make sure you give Fabulosa’s brand-new Sweetie collection a whirl! With nostalgic notes of creamy vanilla, syrup-soaked berries, candied fruit and a sprinkle of hundreds and thousands, these cleaning products smell good enough to eat – but make sure you resist! Who knew you could get a sugar high while cleaning the house?! Prices from £1, available from The Range Visit: myfabulosa.co.uk Buy of the week Looking for a last-minute Mother’s Day buy to show your mum how much you care? Look no further than Fitzbillies! With…

When setting out on the open road, it’s essential to get clued up on your car maintenance essentials – or else your trip of a lifetime might turn into a roadside disaster. But after a while behind the wheel, it can be easy to forget how to carry out all the essential checks. Chani Donnachie, centre manager at Protyre Wigston, has shared all you need to know to get your car back on the road. Please visit: protyre.co.uk 1. Engine oil Regular oil checks are a must for ensuring that your engine is running smoothly at all times. While most cars will have a dashboard warning light to tell you if your engine oil is getting low, you can never go wrong with a manual check. Open your car bonnet…

Bump in the road Q A hard bump has formed on my finger after writing with a pen at work. Could this be dangerous? Sandra, Yate A The formation of this bump is a result of the skin’s natural process of creating a protective layer of dead skin cells to shield the underlying skin. While the hard bump is unsightly and possibly can become a bit sore or inconvenient, it is not dangerous at all and will not turn into anything sinister. This is a callus formation that can remain unchanged. If the overlying skin becomes hard like calluses on your feet, it can be filed down. However, you should have a nurse look at it beforehand. To remove the callus, you can soften it by soaking and gently exfoliating…

Verdict: GENIUS! Green-fingered Original Women’s Gardening Gloves, £22.95, visit: feverfewgarden.co.uk When tending to your garden blooms, there’s nothing worse than baggy gardening gloves, designed to fit manly hands. Only, these are different. Designed by women, for women, these gardening gloves come in four different sizes, from XS-L. Not only that, but they have reinforced fingertips so you can use your mobile phone with them, not needing to take them off. And there is an added clip, so the gloves can be secured together, meaning you’ll never lose a single glove. Verdict: BONKERS! In full bloom Wake up and smell the roses… Keeping a small bunch of flowers alive is tricky at the best of times – but what about this whopper? Consisting of 5,564 fresh blooms in total, this bouquet, created by…

DAY NIGHT…

ALL THE DRAMA Dramatic eyeliner seems to be making a bit of a comeback, so to celebrate, e.l.f Cosmetics have launched their H2O Proof Inkwell Eyeliners. Allowing you to experiment with bold and dramatic looks, these liners combine precision, staying power and colour to offer a smudge proof look. With eight shades to choose from and just £7 each, you can have a little fun and try something new. CHOOSE FROM: • White Out • Lavender Daze • Blue Bird • Sugar Plum • Dark Envy • Caffeinated • Navy Baby • Film Noir Available from Boots NEW IN Lacura Dramatic Lash Mascara, £4.99, Aldi Looking to enhance your natural lashes on a budget? Then head down to Aldi’s middle aisle. Get naturally voluminous and full-looking lashes in just one…

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, why not treat her to a delicious breakfast in bed? With these delicious recipes from chef, author and food campaigner Rachel Green, in collaboration with Fairburn’s Famous British Blue Eggs, you are sure to impress. Please visit: fairburnseggs.co.uk Eggy Crumpets with Avocado, Poached Egg, Pancetta and Mexican Salsa YOU WILL NEED: □ 1 small tin of sweetcorn, drained and rinsed□ Bread slices, blitzed in the food processor to make breadcrumbs□ 4 spring onions, chopped□ 4 medium vine tomatoes, chopped□ 1 small bunch fresh coriander, chopped□ ½ red chilli, finely chopped□ Dash of olive oil□ Juice of 1 lime□ Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper□ 8 rashers smoked pancetta□ 2 avocados□ 6 eggs□ Dash of milk□ 4 crumpets□ Rapeseed oil, for frying□ A…

ARIES 21 March–20 April The stars align to bring gossip from the past back to the fore. You think this is a bad thing but it’s actually the only way you can go forward. You realise from thoughts you share with others, that you blamed yourself for something you were never in control of. Proposals and offers made Friday are meant from the heart, so don’t let them pass you by, Aries. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You’re finally moving on from a work issue that had you in a bad place. However, you’re still allowing what you think others think to affect your self-confidence. Believe in you and others will, too. You’ve proved you can take the rough with the smooth, so now it’s time to…

My lovely mum who passed away just over a year ago. She was the best mum, everyone loved her in her local village. She has left a massive hole in all our hearts. Dawn Byram, Scarborough Little Valentina and her grandfather have a special bond. They can spend hours playing together, laughing and giggling. Maria Van Raalte, Norwich My mother-in-law is a superstar. My hubby and I moved into our new home in September – she has helped us clean, decorate and even furnish the house, so thank you! Cheryl Ginn, Gillingham Me as your Ms Royal UK Leeds 2024. I have shown that I am stronger than I think I am. To be nominated is amazing. Clare Hurst, West Yorkshire If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some…

Flipping open the takeaway box, I flopped onto the sofa and hit play on the TV remote. The familiar intro of Desperate Housewives began – my Saturday night classic But the only thing I was desperate for was a bite of my 16-inch Domino’s pizza. This smells delicious, I thought – before devouring the entire pizza all in one go. But that wasn’t all – I’d ordered a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food for dessert. And washing my meal down with a pint of Pepsi Max Cherry, too, I still didn’t feel satisfied either. Luckily, my daughters Jessica, now 12, and Georgia, now nine, weren’t there to witness my feast. I never let them eat like me! After splitting up with their dad in May 2017, I was…

Laying lettuce on a plate and adding juicy pink prawns, the only thing left to do was the sauce. Mixing until I had the right shade, my prawn cocktail was then complete. Only when taking a bite, it seemed I’d made a blunder in the recipe… As instead of the favoured savoury starter, I’d made a sweet treat instead! You see, even though my prawn cocktail may have looked like the real deal, it was in fact a miniature cake version plonked on top of a cupcake. The prawns made from fondant icing brushed with edible paint to give them that realistic fishy look. And that wasn’t the only meal I had recreated out of cake. From a Greggs steak bake with oozing gravy, the creamiest plate of macaroni cheese,…

Shimmying around my study, I felt a bit breathless as I sang along to the tune on the radio. ‘This ain’t a love song this is goodbye…’ I warbled, boogying to Scouting for Girls. But 28 March 2021 was my due date, and ready to pop, my moves weren’t what they used to be! Then all of a sudden, a pain shot through my belly. Oh my God, I thought. This is it, I’m in labour! Still feeling fine, I decided to stay at home for as long as I could – still battling through the Covid pandemic, it was unlikely my husband George would be allowed to come to the hospital, so I wanted to put if off until the last minute. But that evening, with my contractions getting…

Grabbing my loofah, I lifted my left arm up in the air. Only as my thumb glanced over my left breast, on 23 March 2021, I felt something strange. Checking my breasts on a regular basis, I had somewhat of a routine. However, this time around, panic set in. There was a small lump which hadn’t been there the last time I checked. ‘I’ve found something,’ I said, telling my hubby Chris, now 42, as I got out of the shower. ‘I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,’ he insisted. My mum Stephanie, now 66, also said the same when I told her, too. However, a mum to Ollie, now 10, and Zara, now five, I knew it was better to be safe than sorry, so I booked a GP…

Fiona Yassin is the founder and clinical director at The Wave Clinic. The Wave Clinic is a specialist in trauma treatment, eating disorders, mental health and addiction treatment for teenagers, young adults and families. For more information please visit: thewaveclinic.com How can I deal with this? Q My daughter has been accused of being a bully at school. I’ve been called into the school office for her behaviour. I can’t tell you how angry I truly am. I don’t know how to support her… Jessica, Hartlepool A It’s difficult when you have been called into school and you find out that your child has been bullying. You may question yourself, and of course those feelings are perfectly natural, but try not to beat yourself up about what’s happened. The most…

Despite all odds, Terrance ‘Terry’ Allen Adams was a little boy who was determined to overcome many obstacles. Welcomed into the world on 16 October 2015, in Clinton, Michigan, Terry had a difficult start to life. Born with a genetic disorder called CHARGE syndrome, it meant as Terry grew up, he was ‘wobbly’ on his feet, unable to talk or swallow and had to be fed via a tube. However, even though Terry was never able to communicate, his personality spoke volumes instead. With a huge extended family who loved him dearly, including his dad Gary and mum, too, Terry would never let anything stop him. Splashing around in a paddling pool with his eldest sister, playing in a ball pit and even dressing up as Scooby Doo, ‘he had…