Table of contents for 22-Jul-2021 in Pick Me Up!

I’ve been bullied almost my entire life. Growing up, I was never accepted. Having received a scholarship to attend a private school, the kids taunted me for being poor. At first, it was just verbal, but as the years went by, the bullying turned physical and when I was 16, a knife was held to my throat. I was miserable, but I decided one day that I was going to use it to my advantage. For years I was told that I was poor, ugly and worthless – that I would never make it. I was going to prove them wrong. For myself and my own mental wellbeing. That’s why, I set up what is now a multi-million pound consultancy company, Lisajohnson.com, where I empower entrepreneurs and women to go…

Tidying around the house, I heard my son Dan*, 16, walk through the door. ‘Hi Mum, this is my friend Will,’ he said in 2003. ‘Hi,’ I murmured, not really paying attention. As a busy household, people were always in and out. ‘Mum… this is Will Smith,’ Dan said again. ‘Oh, sorry,’ I smiled, looking up. ‘I’m Marilyn He politely nodded back. Will seemed shy at first and the two of them went off to play video games. Dan had never introduced Will to us before, but after that, he was around quite often. Will slotted in well with our family and became part of the furniture – and I enjoyed having him there. And not to mention, Will was super friendly. He was always offering to help around the…

Laying down on the floor, I prepared myself to use every bit of strength in my body to do my first sit up. ‘You’ve got this, Hannah!’ my PT Adam shouted to me. My entire body quivered as I focused my mind and gave one almighty squeeze. It took a couple of seconds, but I managed to sit upright before flopping back down again. Arms outstretched, I struggled to catch my breath as I sobbed happily. In that moment, I knew that my future had shifted from looking extremely bleak, to something with feelings of achievement and joy like I felt in that moment. This is it, I thought. Slowly clambering to my feet, I hugged Adam and continued to cry my eyes out. It was November 2017 and a…

Store in style Keep your most precious pieces contained in style with Oliver Bonas’ collection of jewellery boxes and stands. Choose a large box with separate compartments, or a trinket dish to keep those tiny accessories safe. Find out more about our commitment to REAL woman womanandhome.com/real…

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, across the BBC Still officially called Tokyo 2020, even though it’s appearing this summer, the games begin with the BBC bringing live coverage across TV, radio and online. Kicking off with live coverage from Tokyo’s National Stadium, the games of the 32nd Olympiad will be a spectacular and moving showpiece as Japan welcomes the athletes of the world. Presented by Clare Balding and Alex Scott, with ceremony commentary from Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter. Alex Scott presents live coverage as we get our first sight of Team GB’s athletes with the women’s footballers taking centre stage. The Chile clash is the first of three for Team GB’s women, who also face hosts Japan on 24 July before taking on Canada three days later. Uprising, BBC One…

READY, PEDI, GO! Put your best foot forward this summer with the perfect at-home pedicure regime. STEP 1 Westlab Epsom Salts, £5, westlabsalts.co.uk Swollen feet and ankles can be linked to magnesium deficiency and fluid retention. An Epsom Salt foot bath is a traditional remedy for this, as it can replenish magnesium, while also helping to flush the body. An added bonus is that it also relaxes tired, aching feet. Use a cupful of salts in a foot bowl of warm water and soak for 10 to 20 minutes. STEP 2 Urtekram Coconut Body Scrub, £7.85, Ocado Buff away dead skin cells to leave behind baby soft feet with this coconut body scrub. Formulated with organic virgin coconut oil, plant-based peeling and hyaluronic acid to smoothen and strengthen skin, the…

Transport to Alice’s Wonderland at the five Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gardens this summer, as the world’s leading gardening charity partners with Macmillan Publishers to celebrate 150 years of Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. Reimagined for contemporary audiences by multi-award-winning illustrator Chris Riddell, Wonderland will be brought to life throughout the summer holidays. Inspired by Alice’s spirit of curiosity and a host of quirky characters from Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, during their visit, families can view the gardens through the eyes of Alice, encountering topsy-turvy installations along the way. Children with be invited to sneak through the rabbit hole, peek through the door in the tree and transform themselves into a Queen (or King) of Hearts. There’s something for everyone…

We’re loving this! Introducing Flower Moon, Oliver Bonas’ new and exclusive jewellery collection, designed in collaboration with beautiful new mama and author Liv Purvis. All of the earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets in this gold jewellery collection have an heirloom feel, designed by Liv to be treasured and make you feel special. From the hoops to the rings, each piece is thoughtfully designed with delicate floral and celestial details, inspiring quotes and pale inlaid stones, named after important women in Liv’s life. • Go to oliverbonas.com to shop the range now. Good deed of the week Treat yourself while proving a meal for a hungry child in education somewhere across the globe. All of BOBBIE’s brownies contain the finest, sustainable and ethical ingredients and they are made in the UK.…

Scooping up our daughter, Esme, then one-and-a-half, I gave her a big cuddle. ‘There, there,’ I cooed. ‘Nasty sickness bug.’ She had been being sick each morning for two days. My husband Aaron, 36, and our other kids Jordan, now 17, Lillie, nine, and Sienna, six, had also had a bug so we reckoned it would pass. But days later when we all finally felt better, Esme was still being sick. She’d vomit every morning and then again after her gymnastic session in the afternoon. When it had been going on for two weeks, I saw the GP. ‘It must be an allergy,’ he said to us. He suggested Esme should avoid certain foods and for us to keep a food diary. Days passed, though, and nothing changed. Esme was…

Complete the grid then read down the shaded squares to reveal the hidden answer. Clue: Combat sport. ACROSS 7 & 20 Across. _ _: Prince of Thieves, 1991 adventure film starring 15 Across, 3 Down, 5 Down, 9 Down & 23 Down (5,4) 8 Venetian boatman (9) 10 Used in seeing (6) 11 Strangle (8) 12 Brightness (8) 13 Swiss city (4) 15 Morgan _, Brad Pitt’s co-star in the 1995 crime thriller Se7en (7) 17 Retired person’s payment (7) 20 See 7 Across 22 Form of comic verse (8) 25 For each year (3,5) 26 Insurgents (6) 27 Harmless (9) 28 Completely exhausted (3,2) DOWN 1 Pegboard (9) 2 Statuette (8) 3 Kevin _, director and star of the 1990 epic Western film Dances With Wolves (7) 4 Charming…

How to stop your puppy biting Dr Jessica May, UK lead vet at the video vet service FirstVet (firstvet.com) gives her advice on how to stop your puppy biting… 1. REACTING – If a puppy bites, then it is important to let them know that they have done something wrong. Pulling away and firmly saying ‘no’ is a good starting point when teaching boundaries to puppies. Redirect their attention to a toy, which can be chewed. It is also best to leave them alone for a moment to let them know to be more gentle. 2. BODY LANGUAGE – As well as biting while playing, puppies may bite if they feel scared or anxious. Try to be one step ahead of your puppy. As an owner, being able to spot…

Staring at the pregnancy test, I did a double-take. ‘No,’ I whispered to myself in the bathroom mirror. ‘I can’t be.’ I waited a bit. I thought it was a false positive. So, I did another one. Again, two strong pink lines appeared. ‘Oh, my God!’ I cried. I ran out and found my partner Daniel, 30. ‘Look!’ I shrieked, brandishing the testing wand. ‘You’re pregnant!’ he cried. ‘Yes!’ I yelled. That night, I still couldn’t believe it. I’d always had irregular periods and been told it might take a while to get pregnant. Another reason I’d worried I might have trouble was because as a child I’d suffered from pulmonary stenosis – a congenital heart defect which means the valve between the heart and lungs narrows. I’d had surgery…

One of life’s biggest lessons is that having more friends doesn’t equate to more love or happiness. Having fewer friends who are true is something many adults have come to accept. Only, that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to meet new people. Even if you have a distinct friendship group already set up, meeting new people is an invaluable part of life. However, as adults, it’s not quite as simple as it was when we were young. It’s not as easy to just walk up to people and ask to be their friend anymore. And also, what type of friend are you looking for? Do you just want people to mingle with on a night out or are you looking for something a little deeper than that? Just as finding…

Sitting on the sand, the sun was setting, and the tropical ocean lapped at my feet. My boyfriend Jimmy and I were on holiday in Jamaica and after five years together, I just knew this was the moment. This was when he’d propose. He leaned in and I quivered. My heart fluttered. At last. This was it. He was finally going to ask me to marry him! ‘Ria…’ he said to me. ‘Yes?’ I stammered, while my pulse was racing. ‘Shall we get another beer in?’ he asked. My heart plummeted. It was always like this. Since we’d met in 2013, I’d known he was serious. I longed to get engaged and dropped hint after hint. But Jimmy never got it. Each Christmas I’d sit by the tree, hoping the present…

www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Keep out the way of those who you know will bring your mood down. You of all signs should know that it’s better to keep going forwards than to look back. From Wednesday, conversations regarding your career help you realise where you need to go next. Don’t say part of what you want but admit the whole dream. Faces are around who can help you turn them into reality. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May’ I can see you were feeling isolated and lost as to what should happen next. Step back this week and you will see that the next move is theirs to make. You have said your peace and you put your point across brilliantly. News of an ex makes…

Be a winner This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Creating a clean and neat space can help makeover a room with a minimal cost yet maximum impact. This Addis rattan effect laundry hamper and basket, toilet brush and bin, is a perfect mini makeover. To embrace and love your space visit addis.co.uk Shine bright To clean the white rubber area on your trainers simply buff out marks with white toothpaste and wipe away with a wet cloth. Judith Cairns, Essex Stay protected I have pale skin and am prone to burning in the sun so I’ve created my own parasol and holder using an umbrella, Sellotape and an empty toilet roll. Becky Jacobs, Birmingham Perfectly placed I save my empty plastic fruit…

As I tried to conceal my spots with makeup, nothing seemed to work. ‘It’s never going away, is it?!’ I cried to my mum Katrina, now 46. ‘It’s probably just hormonal,’ Mum consoled. ‘I’m sure it will clear up eventually.’ But aged 14, I hated the way my skin looked. Since hitting puberty my skin had been a nightmare to deal with. With acne all over my cheeks and forehead, I was incredibly self-conscious about it. And no matter what I tried, nothing seemed to make it any better – my skin was always plagued with angry, red spots. Heading into my local supermarket, I would try every so called ‘acne remedy’ out there. While they’d usually work for a little while, within about three weeks my skin would start…

1 It’s caused by a gas. ☐ True ☐ False 2 It doesn’t always lead to death. ☐ True ☐ False 3 There are no symptoms ☐ True ☐ False 4 It can cause heart disease. ☐ True ☐ False 5 You can’t prevent it. ☐ True ☐ False 1 TRUE Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that can leak from boilers, gas fires, central heating systems, water heaters, cookers and open fires. It has no smell and is deadly if too much of it is inhaled. 2 TRUE If the exposure to carbon monoxide is only small, people can be OK without needing treatment. However, there are around 60 deaths each year in England and Wales from carbon monoxide poisoning. 3 FALSE Severe cases can cause symptoms such as breathlessness, chest pains,…

Through my eyes, I see a world of colour. From the green grass to blue sky, my eyes can take in each and every shade. Only, I know all too well that many people are sadly not given this gift. You see, growing up, most of the men in my family were colour blind. For a long time, I thought they saw everything in black and white. ‘Is this how you see the world?’ I would ask my brother and grandad, turning the colours on the TV right down. I never truly understood the science behind it, but as most of the men in my life were colour blind, I just assumed it was perfectly normal. Only, as I grew into an adult, I began to understand a little more…

Jeyes Fluid, the British heritage brand that’s been proudly keeping the nation’s gardens clean for over 140 years, has launched its Creative Spaces initiative by partnering up with award winning interior stylist Melanie Lissack. New research reveals that 73% of Brits said their garden and outdoor spaces have become even more important following the pandemic, and two in five people are looking to transform their garden areas in 2021. Together, Melanie and Jeyes Fluid are helping to inspire Brits on how people can easily repurpose tired furniture, leftover materials in the home and upcycle them to transform their gardens. UPCYCLE TINS TO CREATE VASES YOU WILL NEED: ☐ Old Jeyes Fluid tin or any type of tin/can ☐ All surface paint in a colour of your choice ☐ Artist’s paintbrush ☐…

Ridley Kazoo That Tune, £9.99, Prezzybox.com Can you kazoo that tune? Features over 200 wellknown songs! Mini me birthday personalised doll, £19.99, Firebox.com Treat someone to a miniature birthday mascot! Another year older, about 4ft shorter. Nested chicken measuring cups, £14, RedCandy.co.uk Baking is no yolk, you can’t just wing it! Rely on a helping hen to cook your dinner.…

Arctic Coffee White Chocolatte, £1, Tesco. Arctic Coffee is adding an exciting new White Chocolatte flavour to its highly popular lineup of iced coffees this summer! Camden Town Brewery Piña Lager, from £10, shop. camdentownbrewery.com. The Piña Lager from Camden Town Brewery is back and ready to bring lager lovers the taste of the tropics with its coconut, lime and juicy pineapple flavours. Freee Gluten Free Cereals, from £2.99, www.dovesfarm.co.uk/freee Leading gluten free food brand FREEE has launched two delicious new breakfast cereals – Fruit & Fibre Flakes and Supergrain Hoops – both of which are not only gluten free, but also vegan and organic. Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Bars, £2, Tesco The iconic taste of Ferrero Rocher is now available in a 90g bar with three delicious chocolate varieties to…

They say that you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince. This old wives’ tale rings true when it comes to my dating history. Over the past year, I’ve had more than 100 virtual dates. From accidental wig slips to bitter exes and awkward silences – some of my dates have been complete disasters. I have had about four serious relationships in my lifetime. My first ever date was with a boy in school. I remember he went round the class asking everybody what songs I liked, and then he made me a playlist CD with my favourite tunes. As I grew up, men became less thoughtful and I experienced many awful dates. Once, I was in a really nice bar in London with a guy…