Table of contents for 26-Oct-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Listening to instrumental scores from my favourite films, I drifted to my pen and paper. I’d never considered myself much of a writer before, but now, poetry was naturally flowing out of me – the music drawing out all my emotions. Having battled with depression in the past, opening up through poetry became a form of therapy for me. Maybe this could help other people, too… I pondered. And so I set up an email newsletter followed by a Facebook group back in 2004 to share my poetry with others. Scrolling through the comments, I was taken aback at what I found. I feel like this, too. I’m glad I’m not alone in this, one comment read. I was just so happy to show people that it’s OK to open…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. These five packs of super sponges are a must-have for around the house. In a range of different colours, it could even be worth colour coding them to make sure you don’t cross-contaminate. Blue for the loo, pink for the sink, green for clean, yellow for mellowing with the dishes, red for appliances and purple for pans – the list goes on! For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Wardrobe saviour I always remove the labels at the back of my clothes using a seam unpicker. It saves the labels poking up from my clothes without me knowing. Colleen Brunton, Enfield Breezy beauty As a bit of a beauty junkie, I sometimes get…

With pharmacist Evelyn Liddell at Weleda (weleda.co.uk) Heavy lifting Q In my job, I’m often lifting heavy boxes but my back feels strained and aches constantly. What can I do to prevent this? Jill, Bracknell A Acute strains can be caused by one event, such as using poor body mechanics to lift something heavy. Chronic muscle strains can result from repetitive injuries when you stress a muscle by doing the same motion over and over. Regular stretching and strengthening exercises for your sport, fitness, or work activity, as part of an overall physical conditioning program can help to minimise your risk of muscle strains. Try to be in shape to play your sport – don’t play your sport to get in shape. If you have a physically demanding occupation, regular…

Queensmith Laboratorygrown Diamonds In recent years, Londonbased retailer Queensmith have revealed that there is a market for lab-grown diamonds. Yes, science now means that diamonds can be grown in a lab. Sales are booming by 65% year on year in fact. Verdict: GENIUS! Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Although they’re not as rare as their counterpart, they are actually an eco-friendly alternative. Made in an artificial setting using vapour deposition or high pressure and high temperature, the process is truly genius! Would you think about buying a labgrown diamond? • To find out more please visit: queensmith.co.uk The Cullinan Diamond Imagine if this whopper was in your jewellery box! The Cullinan Diamond, also known as the Star of Africa, is the largest rough diamond ever found. Weighing in at…

There’s an unexpected item in your bagging area – this season’s best fashion items from Nutmeg at Morrisons! With chunky jumpers, must-have jackets and autumnal items, don’t forget to scour the fashion aisle when you are doing your weekly food shop. Available to buy in store now……

Spritz it! Freshen up your makeup look with a spritz of one of Collection’s four new setting sprays. Helping to give you that flawless look on a budget, these sprays will keep your base refreshed and in place, throughout the day and into the night. • £6.99 each, available from Superdrug Witching hour Halloween is upon us and if trick-or-treating isn’t on your radar, why not get into the spooky season with a ghoulishly good soak? With a range of spooky bath bombs, bubble bars, glow-in-the-dark soaps, shower slimes and more, Lush’s Halloween collection really will put a spell on you. Here are just a few of our favourites… BEAUTY NEWS NO 7 LAUNCHES NEW DERM SOLUTIONS SKINCARE RANGE, ALONGSIDE NEW FREE IN-STORE SKINCARE CONSULTATIONS! Do you need beauty advice? Write…

Kate Ashley-Norman is a psychotherapist and public relations strategist who believes that knowledge, communication and education are the foundations of good emotional well-being. (kateashleynorman.com) I don’t think I can cope anymore… Q I’ve experienced major loss in the family. My dad passed away two years ago, my brother last year and I’ve just gone through a huge break-up. I’m not sure I have the energy to keep going – life is relentless, and I just want to move past all of this. Tracey, Maidstone A There is a reason why we experience grief. It is by passing through this period of pain that we come to terms with loss and move onto the other side. However, such strong emotions can be overwhelming and it is essential that you have the…

Want to lose weight but don’t know where to start? Well fitness trainer Sarah Hutchinson has teamed up with nutritionist Charlotte Taundry to create The Weight Loss Kitchen – the ultimate cookbook to help you banish fads and yo-yo dieting for good. The Weight Loss Kitchen, £25, Waterstones Creamy Coconut Chicken Curry YOU WILL NEED: □ Extra virgin olive oil spray□ 2 medium chicken breasts, diced□ 1 medium red onion, finely chopped□ 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped□ 60g brown rice□ Pinch of salt□ ½ tsp grated ginger□ 1 tbsp curry powder□ 1 tbsp tomato purée□ 1 heaped tbsp Greek yoghurt□ 200ml coconut water□ Small bunch of coriander, roughly chopped□ A few mint leaves, finely chopped□ 1 lime, halved 1 Heat a large frying pan and spray lightly with oil.…

Heading in the door after a long day at work, I collapsed onto the sofa. Working in recruitment, I sat at a desk all day – but still, by the time I got home, I was exhausted. I barely had the energy to shove a ready meal in the microwave, never mind cook something healthy and nourishing, or go out with friends. In my early 20s, I should have been out having fun and living life to the full. Surely this isn’t normal, I thought. But I’d been like it ever since I was a teen. Since having glandular fever back when I was 15, I’d been constantly exhausted. ‘Come on, don’t be lazy,’ my mum Tracey, now 58, said, trying to snap me out of it. It wasn’t that simple…

Snuggling up on the sofa with my little girl, I hit play on the TV. With the colourful world of Disney’s Moana dancing across the screen, my daughter Olivia, then three, was enchanted. ‘See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me!’ Moana sang, with Olivia singing along, too. With her collection of Disney Princess dresses, from Frozen’s Anna to Beauty and the Beast’s Belle, Olivia was my very own little princess. While Moana was her favourite princess, it often changed – one day it’s Elsa, the next it’s Goofy! She was completely Disney mad and it made my heart swell seeing her smile. So when my usually happy toddler started waking up crying in November 2019, I knew something was wrong. Waking up to the harrowing…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Stop allowing others to tell you what to do with your life. You forget what sign you are and how strong you are. I know that the last year has taught you some harsh life lessons, but it’s also shown you very clearly what and who you don’t want in your life. Decisions made on Friday prove this very fact. You’re finally owning the life you want to live, Aries. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug You still have feelings for someone who you wanted out of your life. You can love someone but not like them, you know, Leo. I know things got out of hand, but you can’t let your standards slip. Not when you’ve come so very far. An overemotional mood…

Who said you can’t stay warm and be stylish?…

Heading into a midwife appointment, I felt so alone. My husband Will, 36, and I were pregnant with our first child, and couldn’t wait. But being pregnant going into 2021, as Covid was rife and lockdown hit, was very isolating. Will wasn’t allowed to come to the midwife appointments, so I had to record any special moments on the phone. He was allowed in for scans, but it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t how I’d imagined my first pregnancy. Thankfully, I found online resources like Postpartum Plan which really helped with any extra questions and support – it really did help me and Will feel less isolated, knowing other people were going through the same. They’d followed me on Instagram, and I was able connect with lots of other mums…

FOR EVERY READER! BONUS OFFER Complete your Martha Hill Skin Care at super discount prices! All products are free from artificial fragrance and colour and are cruelty free and UK made. 1 50ml Evening Primrose Toning Gel (with oil of Evening Primrose, cucumber, rosewater & witch hazel) A deliciously cooling, premoisturising treatment to help prevent moisture loss, tone, refine and refresh. 2 250ml Evening Primrose Cleansing Lotion (with oil of Evening Primrose, avocado & cucumber) A rich, creamy cleanser formulated to gently remove every trace of makeup and impurities leaving your skin supple and thoroughly cleansed. 3 50ml Evening Primrose Moisturiser (with oil of Evening Primrose, avocado, sesame oil, vitamin A & UVA/UVB sunscreen) This light, easily absorbed daytime moisturiser will help smooth, soften and maintain moisture balance. 4 50ml…

Julia’s here to tell us all about why the mucky sport is so special to her – and why you should give it a go, too! 1. How did you find out what bog snorkelling was? After suffering from a life-changing car accident, I was recovering from severe sciatica in hospital when my friend gave me the Guinness Book of World Records to entertain myself. Flicking through the pages, I stumbled upon bog snorkelling and immediately, I was intrigued! 2. Why did you decide to give it a go? Having lived near a bog in Kerry all my life, I was always told to stay away from it and tread carefully. So, bog snorkelling blew my mind – it was telling me to embrace the bog rather than fear it.…

Jane Saunders, 63, from Devon, didn’t know what to expect when she started tracing her family tre… • To discover your family history, please visit: findmypast.co.uk Rifling through old photo albums, my curiosity was immediately sparked. Inheriting my mum Faith’s photo collection after she passed away in 1990, I naturally became more interested in my family history. While Mum always spoke so much about her side of the family, including my grandparents and great grandparents, there were still so many gaps. Especially as my dad Harry was raised in a children’s home. And so there was always a part of me that wondered – where do I truly come from? Examining the names scrawled in Mum’s handwriting on the back of each photo, I began tracing back the generations on…