Table of contents for 02-Sep-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Peering at the pregnancy test, I held my breath in anticipation as I waited for the results. ‘Well, what does it say?’ my husband, Jake, 37, asked. ‘It’s negative,’ I sighed. Jake and I had tied the knot in June 2011, and had started trying for a baby straight away. Jake had his son Daysen, 15, from his first marriage, and I loved our little family. However, I always wanted a baby of my own Almost as soon as we began trying, I shared any updates with my mum Angie, 53. We both worked in the same county court, in Utah, USA, so she was always there whenever I needed her. Her office was just across from mine where she worked as an administrative assistant and I was a legal…

This week, our tip of the week will receive some great products from Addis! Creating a clean and neat space can help makeover a space with minimal cost yet with maximum impact. This Addis sink caddy, drainer, bowl and composter is a perfect way to refresh your sink side! To embrace your space and love your home visit addis.co.uk Rock on Whenever I’m at the beach, I collect some pebbles and get creative by drawing patterns on each of them using felt pens. Now I use them as paperweights. Tina Williams, Ebbw Vale Sharp thinking Protect your razor from moisture and stop it from getting rusty by letting it sit in baby oil between uses. Mary Hadley, Cradley Heath Egg-cellent idea Instead of buying rings for frying eggs, I just…

Irritating ulcers Q I keep getting ulcers in my mouth, and sometimes they’re so painful they make it hard to eat. Why is this happening, and how can I treat it? Janet, Cheshire A The medical name for mouth ulcers is aphthous ulcers. These are small, oval sores that appear in the mouth, and can be very painful. Mouth ulcers have a variety of causes. They may be due to trauma from biting the inside of your mouth while eating, or due to poorly fitting dentures or braces. They are sometimes caused by infections, too. If ulcers are persistent and slow to heal, you should see your GP. Sometimes ulcers can be linked to other medical conditions such as vitamin B12, iron or folic acid deficiency, coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease…

The sickening decision making that leads to someone committing murder is as horrifying as it is fascinating. 20 Most Shocking Murders delves deep into senseless killings and premeditated attacks. Learn the uncomfortable details of how two young children savagely murdered a toddler in broad daylight, and discover the lies that were told to hide the truth about an axe killing. The depraved acts themselves are truly stomach churning – from the cruel and calculating to moments of sheer madness – and this fantastic bookazine will uncover the gruesome facts behind these atrocities. To get your free copy of 20 Most Shocking Murders use this link: bit.ly/3h3GuRU Offer available from 26 August 2021 to 26 September 2021 Check out more of our amazing bookazines at www.magazinesdirect.com/guides-and-specials/ THIRD EDITION, WAS PUBLISHED 1ST…

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Visit the unique, colourful pride now! The lions won’t be sleeping tonight – they’ll be prowling around London, Bristol and Edinburgh instead! This pride of unique lions has taken centre stage to support African conservation. The Tusk Lion trail, a global art installation, features 47 life-sized lion sculptures in iconic locations around the globe. The population of African lions is estimated to have declined by as much as half over the last 25 years – and there are now fewer wild lions left in the world than rhinos. With 27 in London alone, each stunning sculpture will highlight the magnificence of lions, threats to their existence, and the people working on solutions for their survival. Curator Chris Westbrook has teamed up with an array of talented artists from the worlds…

Whether you have an air purifying Sansevieria on your bedside table, or your very own indoor jungle, even the lowest maintenance plants require a repot – either annually or at least every two years – to keep them looking their best for years to come. Follow this simple step-by-step from Dobbies houseplant buyer, Claire Bishop, and watch them reach their full potential… SIGNS YOUR HOUSEPLANT NEEDS TO BE REPOTTED: • The plant simply looks like it is too big for its pot – as a general rule of thumb, it is best to gradually increase pot sizes, so doing this as an annual job will encourage steady growth. • The roots are growing out of the drainage holes. • Water is sitting on the top and not absorbing. • The…

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 Ego Nib One Via Vie 4 letters Away High Hoax Home Odes 5 letters Abide Cinch Crush Width 6 letters Achier Adhere Anchor Averse Ending Ethnic Taught 7 letters Adamant Orchard Scholar 8 letters Mandolin Mediocre Moonbeam Pretzels Cross it! pg 45 Marching 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. Sudoku pg 45 4,5,9 PLEASE NOTE Pick Me…

We’re loving this Get the little ones moving this summer with Public Health England, Disney and Sport England. As part of the 10 Minute Shake Up campaign, the fun and accessible games can help to inspire parents and children to get active together by breaking down the recommended hour of activity into manageable, Disney inspired chunks. The 10 Minute Shake Up campaign seeks to inspire kids be using some of their favourite characters from Disney’s Frozen, Pixar’s Toy Story and, for the first time ever, Marvel. • To get involved, search: 10 Minute Shake Up. LISTEN IN! If you’ve become a bit green-fingered this summer, check out Dobbies Gardening Podcast – your one-stop-shop for all things plants and gardening related! Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting to dabble with…

1 ABDOMINAL Pregnancy and childbirth can weaken your abdominal wall. Common ab exercises like sit ups, crunches and toe touches are all easy and effective ways to work out your abdominal wall, when you feel ready. 2 PELVIC FLOOR Whilst pregnant, your baby is supported partially by your pelvis. This pressure can weaken your pelvic floor. You should aim to tense your pelvic floor muscles on and off for a few short periods, tensing for a few seconds each time. This exercise can be done discreetly, meaning you can do it no matter where you are. 3 YOGA Yoga comprises both physical and mental benefits, making it a perfect post-natal exercise. It combines a variety of different stretches and moves, all of which help to tone up your body and…

Doggy paddle Our canine companions love nothing more than to splosh around in the water. But, it’s important to keep them safe by spotting any signs of danger. Dr Jessica May, UK leading vet at the video vet service FirstVet shares what to spot. 1. BLUE GREEN ALGAE – Found most often in still or slow-moving water, this algae is toxic to dogs and humans. Symptoms of poisoning are diarrhoea, seeming wobbly on their feet and blood in their stool after a swim. If you suspect your dog has poisoning from it, a prompt vet visit is essential. 2. LEPTOSPIROSIS – This bacterial infection is usually found in stagnant water – particularly where rats are nearby. It affects your pooch’s kidneys and liver and can be extremely harmful if they…

Clinging onto the kitchen countertop, I was laughing so hard I could hardly breathe or stand up. ‘Oh my God!’ my husband Tyler Greene, 32, laughed. ‘What the heck?’ Tyler blinked at me, his white eyes shining through his cocoa powdered face. Coating his eyebrows, nose and cheeks all the way up from his mouth to the top of his head. Shaking his head, the chocolate powder floated down off of his face onto the floor as he gave me the biggest grin. ‘I’m getting you back,’ he teased me. I had played a trick on him and told him that I was testing his strength. After hanging four water bottles on a piece of string across both of his palms, I layered some magazines on top of his hands.…

Bird Bench Feeder, £26, redcandy.co.uk Do you sit in your garden wishing birds would flock to you, like Snow White? Now your dream can become a reality? hang this bench bird feeder and you won’t be able to keep them away Verdict: GENIUS! Magical garden Dino Shower Head, £19, redcandy.co.uk If you ex-stink from being in the dirt for too long, it’s high time for a wash. Luckily, this roar-some shower head is making a mighty menacing appearance in your shower! Verdict: BONKERS! Prehistoric rinse Arrivals & Departures Doormat, £23, redcandy.co.uk Why settle for a doormat that’s just plane boeing?! Instead, upgrade your decor to first-class with this doormat. It will make any jetsetter feel right at home! Verdict: GENIUS! Step aboard!…

The relationship might have been over, but for Dr Shauna Witt, there was still no escaping her ex. Shauna, 42, had dated William Thomas Chisolm on and off until she had finally finished things for good at the end of 2017. Although she knew they were not a good match, it was even more clear she’d made the right decision when after the breakup, William burned her possessions out of spite. His extreme revenge had frightened her. Shauna took out a restraining order against her ex and tried to put the failed relationship behind her. Thankfully, the optometrist had her patients to distract her, and she threw herself into her work at the eye clinic she ran in a Walmart store, in Starkville, Mississippi. On January 13, 2018, Shauna was…

THIS WEEK Stress-free travel A lot of us will be wanting to snatch a last-minute holiday before the school chaos begins again. But it can be a headache trying to make sense of Covid travel restrictions, especially with the rules changing all the time. Professor Denis Kinane, chief medical officer at Covid test provider Cignpost ExpressTest, shares his top tips for taking the stress out of travelling… Check the rules Countries set their own entry requirements, and they can differ over which test you need to take – for example, if you’ve been double jabbed you can enter Spain without a PCR test, but travellers to Italy must take a PCR test within 48 hours of arriving, and then isolate for five days. It is likely that requirements will keep…

If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

Stripping down to my underwear, I posed in front of the camera. Not bad, I thought. Despite having only been married for two short weeks, I was sending nudes to other men. But don’t worry, my hubby Eddie, 28, was all for it. ‘I’m thinking of setting up an OnlyFans,’ I told him in October 2020. We’d literally only just tied the knot, but it was something I was keen to try. I knew you could make money on there and due to having anxiety and autism, I struggled to hold down a job. ‘Yes, do it,’ Eddie agreed. I couldn’t believe it, and that night, we sat down and discussed our limits. Eddie was happy for me to do anything, apart from live cam-to-cam sessions. He was even up…

Rinsing off soap suds, my hand brushed past my right breast and I frowned. What was that? I stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel to dry myself off, and felt my breast again. There was a definite lump there. ‘What do you think?’ I asked my husband Rob, 39. ‘I think you should go to the doctor,’ he said. My sister-in-law Becky had had breast cancer, and we’d all been devasted when she’d passed away just a couple of months earlier. I knew not to take chances. I went to see my GP and was referred to the hospital, where a doctor took a biopsy. ‘You’re lucky you came in,’ the consultant told me afterwards. ‘The lump is precancerous. We’ll remove it.’ It was scary, but I was…

Grabbing hold of my sister’s hand to heave myself up off the living room floor, I reached for my back and winced. Like half of the country, I’d resorted to at-home workouts since we went into lockdown. I’d never been that into fitness, but it was doing me and my sister, Stella, 22, the world of good by adding some structure and entertainment to our lives. It was May time in 2020, and we’d only been exercising for a few weeks – easy circuits of situps, lunges, when my back had started getting sore. Running my fingers down my spine, I noticed something was a bit odd – it just didn’t feel quite right. ‘My back really hurts…’ I told Stella. ‘Can you take a picture of it?’ I pulled…

Sculpted Cream Luxe Bronze, £16, Boots A soft creamy, bronze that will grace your face. Apply to the hollows of the cheeks and double up to use as a creamy eyeshadow. Ted Baker Violet & Bergamot Body Scrub, £6.80, Boots Scrub away the day in sheer style – and with a spectacular scent. Ted Baker’s exfoliating Sugar Scrub will revive, soften and smooth skin. PS…Glow Face and Body Sun Cream, £4, Primark Glow from head to toe with this hydrating sun cream. With SPF 30, it will give you 24 hours worth of moisturisation and enhances your natural glow. St. Moriz Tanning Serum, £14.99, Superdrug This silky, lightweight serum glides onto the skin with an instant glow that gradually builds and maintains a streak-free, flawless tan. Boutique Illuminating Drops, £4,…

A different Walmart was the location for another tragic murder. In 2012, two hunters stumbled across a human skull in a pine forest in Levy County, Florida. It was the remains of missing Christian Aguilar, 18. The student was dead because his killer, Pedro Bravo, was in love with Christian’s girlfriend. Pedro, then 18, and Christian had gone to high school together in Miami. There, Pedro dated Erika Friman for three years. After Erika ended things, she and Christian moved away to study at the same college in Florida. Pedro’s obsession with Erika grew stronger. He changed his education plans and followed her to Florida. But when he arrived, Pedro discovered his ex-girlfriend was now dating Christian. Devastated, Pedro wrote in his journals about winning Erika back. Christian finally accepted…

Standing frozen in my parents’ back yard in Baltimore, USA, the huge one-inch-long black and brown bugs with veined wings and bright red eyes crawled up my body. Around 100 of them worked their way up to my neck using their hooked feet to anchor onto my clothes and skin and pull themselves up. Wide-eyed I glanced at my sister, Alyssa, 21, before breaking a huge smile. ‘This is so amazing!’ I squealed, in awe of the beautiful little creatures that clung to me, assuming I must be a tree. ‘Quick, take a photo!’ My sister grabbed a handful of the bugs and placed them on me before snapping a picture of me in my element. It was May this year when I took a few days off work to…