Table of contents for 28-Jan-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Popping a bit of concealer on my daughter, I helped her perfect her look. ‘Don’t forget my freckles, Mum,’ Poppy said. At 11-years-old, Poppy was obsessed with all things makeup – she has been since she was young. With likes of YouTube and Instagram, it was hardly surprising, as like most girls her age, Poppy spends a lot of her time watching tutorials. As her mum, getting the balance right is difficult – especially as she’s been this way since she was seven. It all started when she was in primary school and was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD. Coming home in floods of tears, the kids at school had started picking on her. ‘They called me stupid,’ she sobbed in my arms. It was heart-breaking, but that’s when…

Ditch processed foods New research has discovered that there is a link between eating ultra-processed foods and increased cardiovascular disease, and early death. Ultra-processed foods include chemicals, colourings, sweeteners or preservatives which are often found in foods such as; ice cream, biscuits, sausages, breakfast cereals and mass-produced bread. A study found that those who ate more than four servings a day of processed foods were 62 per cent more likely to die of heart and circulatory diseases, after an average of 10.4 years, than those who ate less than two servings a day. The best diet is a Mediterranean-style diet – this includes lots of fresh vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, and wholegrains. 37%… That is the amount of 55 – 65 year olds in the UK whose health…

Staring at yet another negative pregnancy test, my heart sank. ‘Not this time,’ I said to my husband, John, now 38, as I made my way out of the bathroom. And while it never got any easier, we’d grown used to it. For the last 11 years, we’d gone through the same routine over and over again. Another negative test after negative test. But doctors had no idea why we were struggling. They couldn’t seem to find any reason for our fertility issues. And as the years went on, we started to give up hope altogether. It felt like it just wasn’t meant to be. ‘We can keep trying,’ John encouraged. But I never got my hopes up. And in July 2020, I thought it was the end of the…

Pulling the airplane seat belt across my belly, my cheeks started to burn. Please no, I willed. It was October 2007, me and my girlfriends were jetting off to Ibiza again, from East Midlands airport. I travel multiple times a year, and I’d never had this problem before. ‘It’s so tight, I’m not sure it’s going to fit…’ I whispered to my friend. ‘Get a seat belt extension,’ she said back, super casually. My face felt like it was going bright red in embarrassment as I breathed in and continued to struggle to belt myself in. ‘There’s no chance I’m doing that, I will make it fit,’ I replied. Eventually it clicked in, but I was extremely uncomfortable. How on earth did I get to this point? I thought to…

Shallots add a uniquely delicate, sweet flavour, transforming everyday meals into something extra special. Shallots are at the heart of many classic dishes but they are also fantastic in stir fries, curries, breads, sauces, tarts, soups and salads. Try them out! Shallot and chicken biryani Serves: 4 Simple to prepare and pop in the oven for a one pan supper! ◻ 200g basmati rice◻ 400g chicken breast or thigh meat cut into small pieces◻ 4 garlic cloves, crushed◻ 1 tbsp ginger, grated◻ Salt and pepper◻ 1 tbsp rapeseed oil◻ 2 large echalion shallots, chopped◻ 1 tbsp cumin◻ 1 tbsp nigella seeds◻ 1 tbsp Madras spice paste◻ 12 curry leaves◻ 400ml chicken stock◻ 200g spinach◻ 100g paneer, chopped◻ Coriander, chopped◻ Red chilli, sliced◻ Yoghurt 1 Cover the rice in water, give…

Ben & Jerry’s Peace Pops, £2.20 (single) and £4 (3 multipack), Co-op. Lifting the January blues, Ben & Jerry’s very first ice cream out of the tub is packed full of vanilla ice cream, chocolate chips and a special peace shaped, cookie-dough-inspired centre. Gordon’s 0.0%, £14 Amazon and Tesco. You can now enjoy your favourite G&T, completely alcohol free, with this new booze-free alternative from Gordon’s. Mr Kipling 30% Less Sugar Viennese Whirls, £1.89, Supermarkets nationwide. They still share the same exceedingly good taste as the traditional and much-loved Mr Kipling Viennese Whirls, but these alternatives have 30% less sugar. Cadbury Crunchie and Fudge Cake Bars, £1.85, Supermarkets nationwide. Two of the nation’s favourite chocolate bars have been transformed into scrumptious cake bars. Hitting shelves this month, the bars ooze the much loved Crunchie…

Scrolling through Facebook, I saw a message pop up that took me by surprise. It was from Josh Henry, 25 – a guy I used to go to school with. I hope you don’t mind me sliding in, how’re you? his message read. The last time I’d even so much as heard from Josh was nearly 10 years ago. The pair of us started messaging back and forth for around four weeks. With three children, Molly*, five, Kelsea*, three and Rosie*, two, who live with my mum Sandra*, plus my beloved dog Patch, I had a lot on my plate. Only, the more me and Josh got talking, the more I wanted to meet him. Fancy hanging out? I typed. I’d love that, he replied. And so, a few days…

Sitting in the back of the car, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. ‘Where is everyone?’ I sighed, as we headed towards campus. Arriving in Galashiels, Scotland, to start my fashion degree at Heriot-Watt University, I didn’t know if I’d made the right choice. I’d always wanted to study Fashion Communications, but it was only available in Heriot-Watt and Newcastle. Growing up in Belfast, I loved the thought of Scotland. Edinburgh, haggis – it seemed like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Only, now we’d arrived, I realised there was little more than a B&Q and a Wilkos. It certainly wasn’t the buzzing city life I envisaged. I’d done my research and was prepared for it to be a little quiet, but as the reality struck, it was hitting me hard.…

Hobbling down to my doctor’s surgery, I was in agony. ‘Can you take a look at these for me?’ I asked my GP, lifting up my leggings. As I lifted past my right ankle and shin, I revealed two large tumours – almost the size of oranges. ‘They’re killing me,’ I admitted to the doctor. You’d think I would have been petrified talking to my doctor about tumours, but this was just a part of my life. ‘We’ll send you down for an X-ray,’ the doctor agreed. By the age of 18, I’d had over 100 tumours on my body, so this was nothing new. I was diagnosed with hereditary multiple exostoses at just six-years-old, after a tumour appeared on my ribs. The condition means I have multiple benign masses…

Matalan’s new You Do You campaign encourages you to feel good and put your well-being first with their stylish range of comfortable loungewear. Dress for the gym, for yoga or simply feel cosy from the comfort of your home.…

Celebrity Best Home Cook BBC One Ten celebrities, including reality TV star Ferne McCann; former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls; Corrie actor Shobna Gulati and former Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas, are put through their culinary paces. Their aim is to impress the trio of judges – Dame Mary Berry, Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett and foodie Chris Bavin. Each week, the celebrity cooks are faced with Mary’s Ultimate round, where contestants produce their tried and tested food for special occasions. Then, Chris’s Rustle Up challenge – with one surprise ingredient and one hour to create a midweek masterpiece. Those who haven’t impressed enough will be picked to take part in Angela’s dreaded Eliminator. Incredible Journeys with Simon Reeve, BBC One During a career spanning more than 15 years, Simon Reeve has…

Success had come to Frank and Joyanne Warner through their hard work and well-earned loyalty from their colleagues and customers, and even though they were just weeks away from retirement, they had never taken it for granted. The couple’s family business was the heart of their community in New Jersey and whether it was through their charity work, or sharing their time with whoever needed it, Frank and Joyanne paid their achievements forward to help others. They treated people with kindness, in the hope that they would go on to do the same to them and others. Frank and Joyanne, both 73, had met at high school when they were 15 and had been inseparable ever since. They’d been married 52 years and had a grown-up son and daughter. Both…

What a great idea When you can’t go to the bar, bring the drinks to you! In House Tasting is offering an on demand, virtual gin tasting experience. Including five 50ml miniatures from one of the UK’s finest craft gins, Copper in the Clouds, alongside accompanying mixers, a comprehensive tasting handbook and a professional video guide. In House Tasting provides the expertise and the G&T – all you need to do is get your taste buds tingling! Enjoy solo, or share the experience with friends over Zoom. Available for £34.95 on inhousetasting.com Don’t miss this Sundays wouldn’t be the same without Sunday Brunch! Jam-packed with celebrity guests, mouth-watering recipes and amazing music. Turning on Channel 4 to Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer is a staple weekend tradition for many. And…

Getting my two-month-old son ready for bed, I scooped him up under his arms. ‘Let’s get you changed,’ I said to him, as his big brown eyes gazed up at me. Dan was born in March 2019, and both me and my husband, Niall, 34, were over the moon. I know every parent says it, but holding him for the very first time, I felt overwhelmed with love. He was absolutely perfect. And once we got back to our house in Jamestown, Ireland, we soon settled into life as new parents and my love only seemed to grow. But as most new mums find out, it isn’t always easy. Dan struggled with colic and reflux and his cries often seemed never ending. But despite all this, he seemed like a…

In the honest words of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex: ‘I knew as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.’ At the end of 2020, Meghan wrote a public letter titled ‘The Losses We Share’ for the New York Times opening up about her experience with miscarriage. ‘Losing a child means carrying an unbearable grief, experienced by many but talked about by few,’ Meghan wrote. According to the charity Tommy’s, miscarriage affects one in four pregnancies. So many women are part of this club that nobody really wants to be a member of. And yet, despite how common it is, people find miscarriages difficult to talk about. Founder of Oh My Mama Body, Vicki Renz (ohmymamabody.com), has had multiple miscarriages, and is now an advisor,…

Catch Claire live on Facebook 21 - 27 january ARIES 21 March–20 April A recent influence has entered your life and has had a really profound effect on your heart. It seems to be more of an emotional journey than a romantic one, Aries. Try to take a step back and breathe. It will ensure that you don’t let nerves ruin what should be a learned time for you this week. I’m so excited about your house of work. I think you should be, too. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug You must keep an open mind when dealing with difficult faces in the workplace. This is one week where patience really will be a virtue. Mars is making you biased when you need to be keeping an…

Sitting on the sofa, Dad sparked up yet another conversation about my career. ‘You really want to work for yourself,’ he told me once again. My dad, Daryl, 59, had always run his own gym business and was a strong believer in being a self-employed person. Even so, fresh out of uni and living back at my parent’s house, I wanted the stability of a full-time job. At the time, I was working in a marketing role, but it wasn’t fulfilling my career desires. However, spending a lot of time on social media for both my job and personal use, I noticed a few candle accounts popping up. A lot of them were based in Australia and their content was beautiful. Like most girls my age, I love candles and…