Table of contents for 05-Mar-2020 in Pick Me Up!

I’ve always considered myself a lucky woman. Happily married with two wonderful children and a good income. Only, in 2013, everything changed for us. My then 14-year-old daughter Emmie suddenly became seriously ill. We didn’t know what was wrong and after hours spent with doctors in hospital appointments, she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Within a matter of months, she’d gone from being a normal teenager, to using a wheelchair and not being able to do anything alone. She was unable to wash or get dressed by herself. It broke my heart as I watched her health deteriorate, and soon, I asked my employer to reduce my workload. Only, as I was in a senior position in a school, there was nothing they could do, so I was forced to resign.…

INGREDIENTS: 1 Drain the mango, reserving 1 tablespoon of juice. Place 100g of the mango in a food processor with the reserved juice. Blitz until it is a smooth puree. Divide between two pots or jars 2 Place the yoghurt, oats, milk, chia seeds and vanilla in a bowl and mix together. Taste, and add a little honey to sweeten if you like. Stir through the remaining mango. 3 Divide between the two pots, place in the fridge and leave to soak and set overnight. Top with nuts, yoghurt and coconut to serve.…

1 Stand tall Slouching adds stress to your spine which puts strain on the bones, muscles and joints you need to hold your backbone in place. Stand up tall and pretend you’re standing against a wall to measure your height. Hold your head straight and tuck in your chin. Your ears should be over the middle of your shoulders. 2 Beware of ‘text neck’ If you’re on your phone a lot, take some time to stretch your neck. Tilting your head to check messages really strains your spine. For a better view, lift the phone up and move your eyes, not your head. 3 Ditch the heels High heels thrust the base of your spine forward, which over arches your back. That can change the way your backbone lines up…

We love using our zodiac sign to predict many things such as our preferred perfume scent and who we are most compatible with. But have you ever used it to pick where you should travel to next? With over 21,000 people searching where to go on average per month globally, online reservation and booking system for airport transfers Taxi2Airport.comdecided to find out where you should be travelling based on your zodiac sign.…

A study conducted by Princes has shown that the average family dinner takes 41 minutes to prepare but is eaten in just half that time! Celebrity chef, Miguel Barclay, has partnered up with Princes, and created some delicious recipes that are ready in under 20 minutes. Serves: 4 Mexican corned beefhash ☐ 1 x 340g can of Princes Corned Beef, roughly cubed☐ 500g large potatoes, peeled and cubed☐ 2 tsp ground cumin☐ 1 large red pepper, cored and roughly cubed☐ 1 large green pepper, cored and roughly cubed☐ 4 large eggs☐ a handful of cherry tomatoes, halved☐ a handful of chopped coriander☐ Splash of olive oil☐ Salt & pepper 1 Grab a large frying pan and pan fry the potatoes over a medium heat in a splash of olive oil…

www.theastrologyroom.com ARIES 21 March–20 April Your home is the base for the most fun this week, and the most romance too. All you have to do is take down the barriers you have had up since last week. It’s time to be open. You’re running out of time to convince a close one, that you are not acting like a spoilt child. Double check travel and work appointments for this week to save yourself time and money. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You are making decisions without doing your research. Try to back away from those who are trying to rush you. You and I know you’re better than that. You’re building the base for the rest of your life so make it all you want it…

Cradling our newborn son, Oscar, I was completely in love. ‘He’s absolutely perfect,’ I said to my boyfriend, Tim, 26. We were both over the moon, but after a traumatic labour I was just grateful he was here safe and sound. After hours of pushing, doctors started using forceps, but nothing seemed to work and I ended up going into theatre for an emergency C-section. The calm hypno-birth I’d planned had gone straight out the window, but thankfully Oscar seemed perfectly healthy, except for a little bruising on his forehead. ‘It’s probably from the birth,’ the midwife assured us. ‘Nothing to worry about.’ Besides, my mum, Gemma, 42, was a nurse and she thought the same. ‘It’ll clear up soon,’ she explained to us both. We thought little more of…

Pippa Best is the founder of Sea Soul Blessings (seasoulblessings.com) and creates simple easy-to-use tools that combine mindfulness, compassion and the power of nature to change lives for the better. Too late to take back Q I told my sister I don’t like her husband and she can’t forgive me. It’s caused such a rift. How can I make it better? Ruby, Southampton A He may be more annoying than ‘Baby Shark’, but your sister’s chosen him for life - which means her happiness trumps your discomfort here. Try to identify the positives - how he contributes to your sister’s joy and quality of life. Don’t give up because your sister can’t yet forgive and forget. Instead, be honest with yourself: what motivated that conversation? Maybe you’re jealous of the…

Internet Matters have created a hub of advice to explain and understand the world of online gaming and encourage children to game safely and responsibly online. Here are their tips to prevent your children from video game addiction: 1. BE IN THE KNOW Review what games your children are playing and how long they’re playing video games. 2. APPLY TIME LIMITS When gaming gets excessive, time limits can be a good short-term measure to reset bad habits. Restrict the time your child spends online. 3. ENCOURAGE BREAKS Take regular breaks of at least five minutes every 45-60 minutes as a rule of thumb. 4. ENJOY ACTIVITIES Play games with children and help them find a range of activities to enjoy away from video games. 5. OPEN CONVERSATIONS Discuss the dangers…

Eric the memo elephant, £14.95, luckies.co.uk Eric is not your average elephant! This handy ceramic message board helps you keep track of those things you always forget. Mini me, £19.99, Firebox.com Shrink yourself, or anyone else! With six adorable costumes to choose from, you can gift a smaller, cuddlier version of yourself. Make your own neon sign, £14.99, Prezzybox.com Twist this neon string light into any shape or word of your choice! A brilliant gift for anyone.…

Crack it! pg 38 Market Cross it! pg 45 Premier Fill it! pg 13 Trainers Bitesize! pg 3 Scar Strike it! pg 13 Argentina (Cross out: 4, 17, 22, 38, 46, 59, 73, 82, 85) Number fit! pg 13 8646 Sudoku pg 45 3,7,3 Follow it! pg 8 Foliage PLEASE NOTE Pick Me Up! will still be bringing you great puzzles to pit your wits against, but will no longer be offering prizes. All puzzle entries up to and including issue 26 will be processed as normal. Don’t forget, you can do puzzles for big cash prizes every week in our sister magazine, Chat.…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! This Drawer Tidy triple pack (£14.99) is perfect for storing all manner of bits and bobs that never seem to find a home. Get everything clean and tidy and in its own organiser placed in the drawer. Non slip base and feet ensuring nothing slides around. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Spect-acular tip Use a dryer sheet to clean your glasses. Keep it in your case! A.Cairns, Essex Five bathroom storage solutions Make use of even the smallest spaces! Make more use of your space at home with Rated People’s bathroom space-saving storage tips… 1. CORNER CABINETS Choose shelves and cabinets that can tuck into the corner of a room to…

Reason to worry? Q My six-year-old keeps getting nosebleeds. Should I be worried? Lauren, Bradford A Nosebleeds are relatively common in children over two years of age and many are a nuisance more than they are concerning. Most bleeds should stop within 5-10 minutes when gentle pressure is applied to the bridge of the nose (just above the nostrils) and over time many children will simply grow out of them. If the bleeding on any occasion does not stop within 10 minutes or the child is faint, dizzy or sick during an episode, or if the bleed follows a recent injury such as a bump to the head then they should definitely be taken promptly to A and E. If bleeds are frequent or regular then do talk to your…

Sweet dreams Eating chocolate could be the answer to a good night’s sleep, according to nutritionist, Keris Marsden. Speaking at an event, she explained how the food can actually have some major health benefits, as it boosts serotonin which helps you fall to sleep at night. It’s not the first-time chocolate has been found to have health benefits. Previously, researchers from University College London found that people who eat dark chocolate are less likely to be depressed. 52%… The amount of Brit’s who have a close family member that struggles with hearing loss. The research by The Hearing Care Partnership found that people with hearing loss are more likely to slip into social isolation. HEALTH TIP Have you tried… Sanature sanitary pads and tampons, from £2.99, Ocado and Lloyds Pharmacy.…

Switching the television on, I tuned in to watch my all-time favourite programme America’s Next Top Model. Watching the slim models walk the catwalk, I aspired to look as thin and lean as them. It was 2010 and I was in my 20s, obsessed with my weight and figure. And it wasn’t just America’s Next Top Model that fuelled my unhealthy eating habits. I was an avid watcher of Supersize Vs Superskinny, too. Always so fascinated at the amount of food they ate. I’ve got to follow that diet, I thought, examining the underweight contestants. ‘Have you eaten enough today?’ my boyfriend, Nigel asked every evening. Yeah, I ate loads earlier at work,’ I lied. At work, when they asked the same question, I promised that I’d eaten lots at…

Slipping on my running gear, I headed to my first group run. As a nutritionist, I’ve always had a healthy lifestyle and I especially love running, but I’ve always done it alone. So, when a client suggested that I join him on a group run, I figured I’d give it a go. ‘It’s an early morning hill sprint, you’ll love it!’ he said. And so, heading out the door in December 2015, at the break of dawn, I was ready to get my run on in Sydney, Australia. When I got there, there was a friendly group of people who all came to introduce themselves to me. ‘Hi, I’m Wil,’ one said. He was super friendly, and he helped show me the ropes. And soon, the two of us became…

Celebrity hair stylist Phil Smith (www.smithenglandhair.co.uk) is here to help you to achieve the trendiest hairstyles of the moment. THE BLUNT CUT A mid length, blunt cut is proving popular with celebrities on the red carpet, so of course it’s what we’re being asked for in salons, too. This look is especially striking when hair is naturally thick as the sharp finish enhances this. The mid length keeps hair in great condition and having it one length gives a sleek, chic finish. A sharp end result is what sets this look off, so I’d recommend checking in with your hairdresser every six weeks to keep those ends clean and precise. • Use: Phil Smith Be Gorgeous Glam Shine Gloss Finishing Spray for added shine – £2.50, Sainsbury’s THE MODERN SHAG…

Cross it! Solve the puzzle to find a word. Fit the words back in the grid and the letters in the highlighted squares spell out the answer. We’ve put in one word to help. Answer on page 47. 3 Letters Fur Ski Sly Spy Tea 4 Letters Disc Sail Spin Tail Tide 5 Letters Error Forum Photo Water 6 Letters Dreamy Eff ort Evoked Gerbil Mainly Salute Summit 7 Letters Iceberg Melodic Midriff 8 Letters Athletic Makeover Momentum Monument Sudoku! To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle, then read down the numbers in the highlighted squares for the answer. Answer on page 47.…