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

Watching as my six-month-old baby slept, I was in total awe of him. Noticing my mobile buzzing beside me, my partner’s mum was ringing. Answering the call, I never could have prepared for the words I was about to hear. ‘He’s gone,’ she wept. At just 24-years-old, in February 2014, my wonderful partner Joshua, the father of my child, passed away in his sleep from an allergic reaction to walnuts. He had no idea he was allergic to them, but one fatal dosage sent him into an anaphylaxis shock. Stricken with grief, I put all of my energy into being the best mum I could. I didn’t want my two children to see me sad. But I was broken – and every night, I’d sob after putting them to sleep.…

Boozy Brits New findings have shown that the number of Brits consuming dangerous levels of alcohol has doubled during lockdown. Research by the Royal College of Psychiatrists showed that one in five of us are risking our health by hitting the bottle too hard. The stress of Covid-19 is thought to be the reason behind the rocketing numbers, with the figures equating to around 8.4 million people in England. Excessive drinking can lead to strokes, heart disease and liver failure. 65%… That’s how much walking at a fast pace for three hours or more at least once a week can help you reduce your risk of heart disease in the future. Have you tried… Yogandha Salut Roll-on, £18.99, www.yogandha.com If you’re struggling with sleep, then you’re probably not alone at the…

Sorting through the garage in our back garden, we separated all of the treasures from the trash. In 2017, my husband Tommy, 35, and I had just moved into his grandparent’s old house. The land had been in their family for generations, and we wanted to continue the tradition and keep the house in the family. So when his grandad Harry moved into a care home, we moved in. ‘Grandad painted this,’ Tommy said, smiling, as he held up an old painting of the Duke of Wellington. We admired it together. The Duke of Wellington painting was one of many things that inspired our next crazy idea… ‘Should we turn the garage into our very own pub?’ Tommy asked me. We had been together for 14 years and we had…

Dressed in red, blue and gold, my little girl Carmela, aged six, giggles away at her daddy. You’re the baddie and I’m the goodie,’ she says to my husband Darren, 49. Wrapping ‘truth rope’ around his hands, Carmela shouts: ‘Now, own up to what you’ve done!’ You win Wonder Woman!’ Darren sighs. I can’t help but smile watching the two of them role play together. Carmela loves the power and strength that being a female superhero gives her. Wonder Woman is a brilliant role model. And she helps Carmela to stay strong during all of her own battles… When Carmela was one year old, we started to notice that her joints were hypermobile. She was quite flexible and didn’t have much stability. At 15 months old, Carmela was able to…

The UK and Ireland Mushroom Producers are working with nutritionist and author, Madeleine Shaw, to explain why mushrooms are a superfood! ‘High in antioxidants, they’re commonly overlooked as a significant source of the sunshine vitamin D,’ Madeleine says. ‘As a key vitamin essential in supporting a normal immune system, Vitamin D plays a vital role in keeping our bones healthy, as it works to regulate our intake of calcium, magnesium and phosphorous.’ Eating just eight medium-sized vitamin D enriched mushrooms a day would give you your daily recommended amount. ‘If you can’t get your hands on vitamin D enriched mushrooms and can only find regular mushrooms, here’s a little tip,’ Madeleine explains. ‘Place them in the windowsill on a sunny day and in as little as an hour or two…

Have you heard of? Planning a wedding in a pandemic? Bring the jewellers home with CAST. British start-up company CAST are changing the rules and enabling couples to design their own wedding rings from the comfort of their own home. By delivering their jewellery making kits straight to your door, you can carve and create your personalised rings using wax. Once you’ve created your bespoke jewellery, pop them in the post and CAST does all the rest! Choose from gold, platinum, palladium or rhodium. The creations are made with love in Birmingham. • Visit their website at experiencecast.com to find out more. What a great idea So long, shame and stigma! Urinary incontinence affects one in three women, especially new mums and those who suffer with hay fever and migraines.…

Watching a Michael Bublé tribute, I was at a wake with my loved ones. However, this wasn’t a normal wake – it was a living wake… for me. It was August this year, and with a maximum of nine months to live, I wanted to make the most of my time. Me and my sister Rachel, have always loved singing Michael Bublé together, so it seemed fitting. I’d first been diagnosed with cancer nearly eight years ago, back in 2012, after my barber had spotted a mole on my head. ‘I think you need to get this checked out,’ he said to me. At 21-years-old, I wasn’t worried, but a few weeks later, I was diagnosed with melanoma cancer. Despite having just qualified as a firefighter, I had to give…

Make dressing dilemmas a thing of the past with New Look’s clothing collection. Featuring trend-led pieces for a high-fashion finish and staple styles for everyday wear. Whether you fancy adding a contemporary twist to your classics or channelling the latest ladies fashion, refresh your wardrobe today… Styled for you Plus-size fashion retailer Curvissa have just launched their first own-label collection ‘Styled For You’. This stylish new collection has been expertly curated to off er a confidence-boosting capsule wardrobe for women sized 14 to 32. Designed with current trends in mind, the debut range includes stylish loungewear, sophisticated smart-casual clothing and versatile partywear. Whatever the occasion this autumn, Curvissa has got you covered!…

Laying down in a skimpy bikini, you close your eyes and soak up the UV rays. No, you’re not on holiday – you’re getting a quick fix on a sunbed at your local high street. For just 50p per minute, your freckles are re-emerging and you’ve persuaded yourself that you look much healthier. In fact – you think you’re glowing! But underneath that tan, the UV rays are causing genetic damage to your skin cells and increasing your risk of developing life-threatening melanoma cancer. The danger of sunbeds has been a hot topic of debate for many decades. Skin specialists, medical professionals and skin cancer survivors have all warned us to stop. 7 people die of melanoma every day in the UK And yet, there are more than 7,000 sunbeds…

It was out of character for thrifty lawyer Lonnie Kocontes to spend money on a holiday, so when he suggested to his ex-wife Micki Kanesaki that they take a Mediterranean cruise together, it seemed like a turning point in their recently reconciled relationship. The then named Island Escape ship, was a budget cruise liner that had been converted from a ferry, but Lonnie had arranged it all off his own back, so Micki couldn’t help but be impressed with the effort he was making. It hadn’t been plain sailing between Lonnie and Micki, but perhaps the cruise was a sign they were heading towards calmer waters. The couple had met when Lonnie was a lawyer and Micki was a paralegal. They’d married in 1995, making Micki his second wife, and…

After packing the overnight bags into the car, I said goodbye to the kids as they set off for their grandparent’s house. ‘I’ll be straight there after work,’ I said, giving my wonderful husband, Russ, 38, a kiss goodbye. In May 2019, we were celebrating Memorial Day weekend at my parent’s farm in Star Valley, Wyoming, US. I was working as a florist and had a few orders to fill before I could join them that evening. My parents, Rex and Debbie, had a large family – 12 children and 45 grandchildren – so it was always a big occasion when we got together. There would be hot dogs, fireworks, and a few tractor rides around the farm, courtesy of my dad, known as Papa Rex. ‘Have fun!’ I yelled,…

His Dark Materials, BBC One Back for a second season, and we can’t wait to delve into the fantasy world, this time created by Philip Pullman’s second book, A Subtle Knife. It sees returning cast members, including Dafne Keen as brave Lyra, and Ruth Wilson as the absolutely terrifying Mrs Coulter. Set in a pre-industrial parallel world where everyone has a ‘dæmon’ – their soul in the form of an animal – in the last season, Lyra set out to the frozen North to save her kidnapped friend. She learns about her uncle’s investigations into mysterious ‘dust’ and her quests continue. It promises to be full of action, adventure and monsters… Countryfile Ramble for Children in Need, BBC One This year’s Countryfile Ramble sees presenters Matt Baker, John Craven, Steve…

Yeo Valley Organic Little Yeos Pouches, 75p, all major supermarkets. Available in Red Berries and Apple & Pear flavours, these yoghurt pouches provide your little ones with organic dairy goodness on the go. Manchester Drinks Company’s Blood Orange Gin Liqueur, £8, Home Bargains This refreshing tipple with a juicy citrus kick is perfect for enjoying on a quiet night in. Just shake to activate the hidden shimmer for the ultimate evening indulgence! Our Best Ever Macaroni Cheese, £3.50, M&S. M&S have done it again and taken one of their best selling dishes and made it even more amazing! Their best ever macaroni cheese will make even the most miserable days that little bit better. Birds Eye’s Green Cuisine Chicken Range, from £2.50, Morrisons, Asda and Sainsbury’s. Famous for its iconic…

Waking up to the sound of cries, it was time for the 4am feed. Hooking my newborn daughter, Mia, onto my boob, she soon relaxed. I’d had no problems when me and my husband, Paul, had our eldest daughter Mylee, now 11, so I always knew I wanted to breastfeed Mia, too. However, now a bit older, I wanted to get the most out of my milk. Afterall, it’s amazing that our bodies can do this, and I wanted to celebrate it. As there was always extra, I started saving some in the freezer, so I could use it later down the line when Mia moved onto yoghurts and other liquid based foods. ‘I want to do more with it,’ I confided in Paul one day. So, having a browse…