Indice dei contenuti per 16-Jun-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Looking over at my girlfriend Catherine having the time of her life, I grinned like a lovesick teen We hadn’t been dating for long, but I was smitten. ‘Come on,’ she grinned. ‘Dance with me!’ ‘I don’t dance,’ I laughed. But when Cat flashed me her bright blue eyes at me, I was mesmerised. She could always get away with anything, and I’d do anything she wanted. The sun was shining at T in the Park, and we boogied the night away. It wasn’t long before we moved in together – I already had an older daughter, Shannon, and Cat had two children from a previous relationship, too – and we all moved into a big five-bedroom house. When Cat fell pregnant in March 2015, it was a shock for…

This week, our tip of the week winner will receive a great product from Addis! This window vac will make light work of cleaning your windows and glass. This household cleaner is multi-purpose, offering effective cleaning on windows, mirrors, shower screens and fighting against condensation. For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Oven hack If you find getting burnt-on grime off your oven racks a chore, wrap them in foil and pop them hot water with a dishwasher tablet on top! Leave overnight to soak. Beverley Lindfield, Kent Plan your post When posting a birthday card with a badge attached, the extra thickness may mean it needs a large letter stamp. Katie Gooding, Tidworth Seriously saucy! When going on a self-catering trip, I take condiments, like oil…

Weddings are about two people declaring their love for each other, but they’ve also become a million-pound industry. Make sure you don’t make a matrimonial faux pas – Lisa Forde, who runs wedding stationery business Tree of Hearts, is here to solve all your etiquette dilemmas. WHO SHOULD PAY? Whether the bride’s parents should pay for their wedding or not has become quite controversial! Traditionally, the bride’s parents would pay for her whole wedding and reception. But as the average wedding now costs more than £32,000 and couples are getting married later in life, we have found that most couples pay for their weddings themselves – but often with a little help from kind parents. You may also find that other relatives, such as grandparents and aunts and uncles, want…

After Dominique Woolf impressed judges on The Great Cookbook Challenge by Jamie Oliver, with her Asian-inspired cuisine, she was then crowned the winner. Her first cookbook, Dominique’s Kitchen: Easy Everyday Asian-Inspired Food (Penguin, Michael Joseph, £20) is packed with simple, accessible recipes that will transform the country’s midweek meals – perfect for family cooking. ‘Dominique delivered on flavour with simple dishes that went down a storm with the judges,’ Jamie Oliver says. Thai green curry chicken & rice traybake □ 4 tbsp Thai green curry paste□ 300ml water□ 300ml coconut milk□ 2 tsp fish sauce□ 300g jasmine rice, rinsed well□ 6–8 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in, fat trimmed□ 200g edamame beans or peas, or a mix of both TO SERVE □ 100g natural yoghurt□ 2 tsp sweet chilli sauce□…

When I got home that afternoon, I sent her a quick text. Is everything OK? Shall I come round? When my phone rang, I assumed it was Cat. But it was her ex. ‘I’m so sorry…’ he began, and I knew straight away something terrible had happened. ‘But Cat’s gone.’ I felt my knees hit the ground and I heard a gut-wrenching scream leave my mouth. I was heartbroken. Just two days earlier, we’d been celebrating Mother’s Day together, smiling and laughing and having fun. Now, my beautiful Cat had taken her own life. I knew she’d been struggling with everything. A gut-wrenching scream left my mouth But I really thought she was getting better. I thought I was helping her. But Cat couldn’t bear the fact that she couldn’t…

Stretching my body as I woke up, I noticed a horrible burning sensation in my throat. I didn’t worry too much about it and got ready to go to work at Cat’s Protection, an animal charity, in Norfolk I must’ve done something in my sleep, I thought. As days went by, my condition worsened. By December 2020, I had a terrible pain in my breastbone when I ate or drank. A few months later, by April last year, I couldn’t keep anything down. But it was so weird, it wasn’t as if I was being sick – it was as if I was regurgitating. I’d even find myself throwing up in the sink when I was at work. The only thing I could keep down was hot chocolate. I felt…

With over 50 irresistible scents to choose from, ranging from the rich and bold, to the sweet, fruity and floral, there is a So…? scent to fit every style, mood and occasion. Behind each scent, hours of work and research have gone into the development to ensure the promise of quality and affordability. For inspiration and new ideas, the So…? team draws inspiration from a wide range of influences, including catwalk trends and high-street fashion, travel, blogs, and social media. So…? prides itself on bringing customers unique perfumes that are designed to empower the wearer and impress anyone they should meet. USE CODE PMU20 SO….? PickMeUp Terms and conditions Visit sofragrance.com and use code PMU20 at checkout, the code cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. UK only.…

We have all seen Judi Love bless our screens on the Loose Women set, but she has also been up to something extra exciting. Launching her first ever fashion collection with online retailer, Very, she has both confident and fabulous items! Starting at just £12 and available in sizes 14 to 28, stand out in these glamourous staples! Top tip Don’t let clothing sizes define you. Fashion is meant to make you feel your best JUDI SAYS: I want people to know that when they put on my Very collection, we have truly thought of them. Considering their shape, their body, and how to enhance all the beautiful individuality that makes each one of us unique. I want people to feel that they are more than just a label. I…

Sitting comfortably on the sofa, I grabbed a muslin cloth. Latching on, my baby boy Dexter started sucking away. After having Betsy, now five, and recently welcoming her brother, my breastfeeding routine had started again. Only, gazing down, I noticed something strange on my chest. A small, purple bruise, with a raised surface. Thinking it must have been something to do with producing milk, I ignored it. But, over the months, the unsightly lump started to grow. I wasn’t concerned about what it was – I was more worried about how it looked. Showing my GP the bruise, I felt reassured. ‘I really don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but we will refer you to check things over,’ he confirmed. It must be a cyst, I convinced myself. But…

Raffia tote bag, £1,400, Prada From popular fashion house Prada, this raffia tote bag is the perfect summer essential. Bearing the popular Prada logo you’ll be trekking to the supermarket in style. That is only if you want to spend near of £1.5k on a bag! The price tag is absurd, for a beach bag you can get in your local high street store for a fraction of the price – especially as it’s only made from raffia! Verdict: BONKERS! Full-price option Straw shopper, £17.99, H&M Now, we think we are on to a winner with this one. This tote bag looks almost identical to a designer one. Holding your grocery shop has never looked so stylish! Pack your sun cream, groceries, towel, flip flops, flowers, or beach necessities in…

The Unexpected Red 2021, £6.75, Co-op Choosing wine can be a minefield, but this Australian red combines four classics – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo and Sagrantino – making it easier than ever! It’s perfect to team with juicy steaks or barbecued scallops. OUR MUST TRYTRY Guylian Chocolates, £5.50, Morrisons Everyone’s favourite choccy seashells have got a new look! The premium Belgian chocolatier now has a new, improved recipe, Fairtrade certification and sleek packaging. Perfect for last-minute Father’s Day gifts! Squeaky Bean Spicy Pepperoni Style Slices, £2.50, Sainsbury’s There’s no need for veggies to miss out on pepperoni anymore! These pastramistyle slices taste like the real deal. Perfect for topping your home-made pizza, or eating in sandwiches and wraps. PepsiCo Kurkure, £1, Tesco These authentic Indian crisps, available in Naughty Tomato or…

9 – 16 June www.clairepetulengro.tv Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April Tension is who you think you should be, with all that’s transpired lately. Relaxation is who you are. Make life simpler for yourself, Aries. Starting from today, you’ll know with ease who you need to put out of your inner circle. It’s those who see stress as an essential part to life. You’ve done a lot of growing up and now you use those lessons to make your best decisions yet. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Just as much as you see in others, you have to see in yourself. Stop treating life as if it were a competition and get on with the good times that can be had through team play.…

Lucy Power is a conscious success coach and educator, who is trained in transactional analysis psychotherapy, too. Lucy helps people to raise their self-awareness so they can live freely, without limits. Visit: iamlucypower.com Showing more skin Q With the hot weather coming, I get so anxious about being forced to expose my body more. I hate my figure and with my friends wanting to go to the beach, or dressing in shorts, I want to hide. Tracey, Cornwall A I appreciate how hard this must feel for you if you hate your figure. However, remember you have options and that you alone are in charge of how much you show. Nobody can force you to bare more of your body than you are comfortable with. The most important thing is…

With Dr Will Cave, GP from Fleet Street Clinic (fleetstreetclinic.com) Rubbish dieter Q My mum is stick thin, and all she eats is junk food. She thinks it’s OK as she’s a healthy weight, but I’m worried about heart disease and cholesterol. What can I say to convince her to eat more healthily? Amy, Rhyl A The risk of heart disease is due to multiple factors, including diet. Processed foods are known to increase levels of harmful cholesterol, but other risks include smoking, high blood pressure, illnesses such as diabetes and the genes you inherit. If your mum is a normal weight then she may not be at great risk of heart disease, however, a cholesterol check can easily be performed by her GP to confirm. Convincing anyone to change…

Rinsing off in the shower, I felt a grape-sized lump in my boob. That’s not right, I thought, feeling concerned So, I did the sensible thing and went to my GP. It was Autumn 2016, and I had a little boy, Fabien, then seven – so if anything was wrong with me, I wanted it caught quickly. After years of being told there was nothing to worry about, though, a pain formed in my back. In 2018, unable to cope, I went into A&E. The doctors thought I had a hernia, but sent me for a CT scan to be sure – and they found a large mass in my breast, going under my arm. This was a cause for concern, so I was sent to the breast clinic for…

Show your dad how much you care…

LOUD AND PROUD It’s officially Pride month. Dig out your glitter, your jewels and your flags as you celebrate love and life. To celebrate, Lottie London have launched their Proud to Be collection that is inspired by the creativity and diversity that encompasses Pride. £5.95 each, available from ASOS 1. PROUD TO BE EYESHADOW PALETTE The best-selling Lottie Palettes have had a Pride makeover. Packed with nine highly pigmented shades, you can mix and match gorgeous mattes with blinding sparkles to express every part of yourself. 2. PRIDE STAMP LINERS Stamp your face with light blue and lilac peace signs and hearts for the ultimate parade look. This dual-ended liner is perfect for giving you a bold wing and stamping your heart out. Unlock your own creativity and create endless…

Anew baby is always an exciting time – but if it’s your second, where does that leave your eldest child, and how can you help them transition from an only child to being a big brother or sister? Experts at baby brand Nuby have shared their top tips on getting your firstborn ready for your new arrival. Explain what’s going to happen This will be dependent on how old your little one is – if they’re under two, they probably won’t be all that interested, but an older child might be bursting with questions or struggling to emotionally adapt. Let them know what to expect – the new baby will be with Mummy or Daddy most of the time, and they’ll either be sleeping, crying or feeding so they won’t…

We all know eating too much meat is bad for the planet, but cutting down can be easier said than done. This beautiful new cookbook from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew showcases plant-based delights to get us thinking differently about what we put on our plates. The book is an anthology of over 60 veggie recipes, gathered from celebrity cooks, chefs and food writers. From comforting suppers to mouth-watering cakes, there’s something for everyone in there. Herbs and spices are used to add a burst of flavour, while leaves are used as edible wrappers and pretty flower petals add fragrance to fruitbased jellies. Look out for the Vietnamese summer rolls – we love them! The yummy recipes are accompanied by stunning photography by Hugh Jackson, making it perfect for your…

Watching the red liquid fill the bag, I was so relieved. It was April 1966, and I’d just given my first pint of blood. Being in hospital with my younger sister, Georgina, then 20, for most of my childhood, I’d always watch people giving blood, and I was intrigued. Now, I was 24, and she was still having problems. Georgina had convulsions as a baby, and it didn’t stop there. One moment she’d have meningitis, the next a brain hemorrhage, it was awful. Seeing my darling sister in pain made me want to help others. The sense of pride I felt doing so was amazing. ‘When can I do it again?’ I asked the nurse. I’d given two pints of blood in a day ‘In three months,’ she replied. Counting…