Table of contents for 13-Jan-2022 in Pick Me Up!

This week, our tip of the week will receive some great products from Addis! Under the sink can quickly turn into a dumping ground. This innovative under the sink organiser by Addis, can maximise your storage and make your life a whole lot easier. Easy to construct and simple to use, with no building tools required, the shelves can be cleverly constructed around the sink piping. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Furry fresh! I use the lids from my glass candles for my dog’s wet food. This means I can store it in the fridge with no cling film and no odours. Christine Dawson, Northumberland Think outside the box! When moving house, label the sides of the cardboard boxes. You will be able to identify them,…

With leading psychologist Dr Alison McClymont – keep up-to-date with her on Instagram @AlisonMcClymontInsta Scared to leave Q Sincethe lockdowns, I’ve struggled to leave the house, and whenever I do, I have panic attacks. How can I get over this? Sally, York A This isn’t uncommon and what may have begun (pre-pandemic) as an anxious ‘personality’, appears to have grown into panic disorder with agoraphobia, too. This is a condition where sufferers feel overwhelmed by leaving ‘safe surroundings’ such as their home, for fear that they may experience anxiety or panic that they cannot escape or control. Panic attacks have a nasty habit of perpetuating more panic attacks, as the sufferer then fears them occurring – which in turn creates this spiral thought process of ‘If I go outside, I…

Viral sleep hacks Have you heard about the latest TikTok sleep hack trends that people are raving about? Wellness experts, Area 52, have gathered together the techniques that actually work… 1 PARADOXICAL INTENTION It’s centred around our body doing the opposite of what you tell it to do. Lay with your eyes open and tell yourself that you’re going to stay awake. Soon, you’ll find yourself drifting off. 2 4-7-8 BREATHING Focusing on your breathing can help to relax the body and improve your sleep. Slowly breathe in through your nose for four seconds, then hold your breath for seven, and finally exhale again for eight seconds. 3 WEIGHTED BLANKETS The pressure from a weighted blanket creates a sense of security, and encourages the body to produce a relaxation hormone,…

Top tip Dungarees are fun and stylish. Wear a turtleneck underneath for a retro touch! Top tip Flares are great for elongating the legs! Pair with heeled boots or trainers…

Hearing the chime of the TV, I rushed into the living room. Neil Buchanan burst onto the screen, with gigantic pens and pencils surrounding him. ‘This is Art Attack!’ he shouted, with blobs of paint filling the screen. Following along with the tutorials, I grabbed foam, pipe cleaners and googly eyes from my craft box. I even begged my parents for a subscription to Art Attack magazine. As soon as the post hit the doormat, I would run to open my latest crafting instalment. From the age of three, every Christmas I would pray for craft materials in my stocking. I must have kept all the stationary brands in business! Then going into secondary school, I realised I was never the one to fit in. I would wear the brightest…

The brand-new, ultimate money-saving plant-based cookbook from UK’s biggest vegan brand, BOSH!, is out now! BOSH! on a Budget is all about creating plant-based food that tastes amazing but doesn’t break the bank. Lifelong friends, Henry and Ian, are the guys behind BOSH! and this cookbook is packed with money-saving hacks and batch cooking tips and tricks, and over 80 delicious recipes. BOSH! on a Budget, £16.99, is out now. Ian’s simple shakshuka Serves 2 □ 1 red pepper□ 2 tbsp olive oil□ 1 large white onion□ 1 fresh red chilli□ 3 garlic cloves□ Handful fresh coriander□ 1 tsp dried oregano□ 1 tsp ground cumin□ 1 tsp smoked□ Sweet paprika□ ½ tsp ras el hanout□ 1½ tbsp tomato puree□ 1 tsp caster sugar□ 1 tbsp red wine vinegar□ 1 400g tin…

How many times do we look in the mirror, and wish our skin was better? Karen J Gerrard, leading skincare expert and founder of SEAMS Beauty, shares her top tips for a glowing complexion without resorting to a full face of makeup. 1 Hydrate Water works wonders both inside and out – my number one tip is to keep hydrated. Drink at least 1.5 litres per day! When our bodies dehydrate, the skin starts to lose its elasticity and gets a dull appearance. Keeping your body hydrated is one of the main keys to soft, plump skin. Pinch a small piece of skin on the top of your hand and let go – if it takes a long time to sink back, then you have left it too long without a drink.…

For a moment, I was frozen in fear. bad things were. But as the shock wore off, and the pain set in, I realised how Looking in the mirror, my face was covered in blood. My skin was peeling away from my cheek. A wide, deep gash was running across my face. Shaking, I quickly rang 999. As I was already on red alert, the police and paramedics arrived within a matter of minutes. Immediately, I was rushed to Aintree University Hospital, where they stitched up the 5cm long, 2.5cm deep gash across my cheek. I also had deep cuts above my eyebrow. Officers found Paul back at the flat and arrested him that very night. He told me there was a bullet waiting for me He was questioned, but…

Nutritional therapist and gut health specialist for KALLA Probiotics, Eve Kalinik, shares her top tips.. Timing is everything Ideally, we want to aim for a 12 to 15-hour period of not eating or drinking anything other than water. This allows our gut to perform the crucial process of cleaning up and clearing out and helps to cultivate a rhythm and routine to our gut-sleep cycle. Eat the rainbow The more varied our intake of colourful fruit and veg, the more we can support a healthier and stronger gut and help to harness a better gut-sleep relationship, too. Include fermented foods Try eating live yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha or kefir, which all provide sources of beneficial bacteria to support gut health. Digital curfew Blue-light exposure messes with our melatonin levels…

Luster Bum Vase, £22.50, arighibianchi.co.uk If you like big butts and you cannot lie, this cheeky vase will catch your eye! The quirky derrière will add a pinch of cheeky fun to your home. Watch the peachy and pert pearlescent bum shimmer and shine – pop in some blooms for stunning tabletop décor. Verdict: BONKERS! Shake your booty! Jellyfish Air Plants, from £15.99, habulous.co.uk Make your home feel like it’s under the sea with this unique Jellyfish Air Plant. Because life really is better, down where it’s wetter… And don’t worry, this jellyfish won’t sting you! Verdict: GENIUS! Down here all the fish is happy! Flip the Frog Kitchen Roll Holder, £34, redcandy.co.uk Paint him like one of your French frogs, or stack on the kitchen roll. Mr Fancy Frog…

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.…

Toddling around the house, my little girl stumbled to the floor. ‘Oops,’ I cooed, but she soon picked herself back up. At just four-and-a-half, Laura was wobbly on her feet. She had a visual impairment, so we just assumed it was down to that. Only, we were told she had an abnormal gait, which meant she walked with a bit of a jerk. For the most part, she just got on with it, but by the time she was 12, things took a turn for the worse. Within the space of a week, she couldn’t walk without support, and she needed a wheelchair to get around. The deterioration was terrifying, but after the initial upset, Laura simply took it in her stride. Moving her into a specially built bedroom downstairs,…

Susie Pearl is a coach, psychologist and author of The Art of Creativity. Find more advice at www.susiepearl.com and on www.patreon.com for exclusive content. Family betrayal QI’ve found out the man who I’ve known as my dad for 32 years, isn’t. I’m heartbroken at the lie I’ve been told. I don’t know who I am any more. Holly, Brighton AIt’s understandable that you will feel anger, confusion and have a big reaction to such news. Understanding who our mother and father are is an important part of our human development. Get some therapy and professional support with this one. Talk it out, be straight talking with the family and tell them how you feel. Bottling up these emotions will be harmful, so it’s crucial that you keep talking and stay…

Lying in bed one morning, my eldest son William, now six, jumped in for a cuddle. As I put my arms around him, my hand brushed past my left boob. What was that..? I’d felt a lump. I knew it wasn’t right. I booked an appointment to see my GP that morning. ‘It doesn’t look like anything to worry about,’ he said. ‘It could be a blocked milk duct.’ I was breastfeeding my youngest son Noah, now two. ‘I’ll send you for a scan,’ the doctor continued. ‘But I wouldn’t worry too much.’ At the appointment a couple of weeks later, the consultant didn’t seem concerned, either, but I was given a scan and had a biopsy and mammogram. I started to worry. It was June 2020, during the first…

Giggling as I popped a new tape into my dad’s video recorder, I turned to my boyfriend Jonathan with a cheeky grin. ‘Let’s do it,’ I smiled, tugging at his trousers. As teenagers, we were the epitome of love’s young dream. I fancied the pants off of Jonathan, and we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other for a second. And with my parents away for the weekend, we decided to spice things up. We’d been friends since we’d met when we started at secondary school, age 11, and we’d been inseparable ever since then. As we got older, friendship blossomed into romance, and with our teenage hormones running rampant, we were all over each other. As I pressed play on the tape recorder, propped up on top of…

If you are susceptible to SAD, founder of Piglet in Bed, Jessica Hanley, shares her advice on how you can minimise its effects. 1.GO FOR A WALK OK, so we know when it’s blistering cold outside and pouring down with rain, the last thing we want to do is get out of the house for a stroll. However, just getting out of the house for even 15 to 20 minutes a day will mean you’re exposed to some natural sunlight, which should help alleviate the symptoms of SAD you are having. Not only this, but a little bit of exercise can also go a long way in helping you to manage your stress levels, and it will release some much-needed endorphins. 2. MAKE A BEDTIME RITUAL Having a bedtime ritual…

Rachel survived the worst fire in the history of Oakland, California. On the night of 2 December 2016, the Ghost Ship warehouse hosted an electronic music concert with many featuring artists from a house music record label, 100% Silk. The warehouse was known as a local artist collective space. There were between 80 to 100 guests that attended the concert that night, all ready for the party ahead of them. After the music was booming, and artists had started playing their sets, the doorman noticed something. Breaking out at approximately 11.20pm, smoke was seen rising from the building. Not only did the warehouse have a complicated layout, but many of its escape routes were makeshift and made of wood. The only stairs to the upper level were wood, and had already…

White Rabbit Porcini Mushroom Ravioli, £3, Sainsbury’s Gluten-free, vegan pockets of goodness. White Rabbit’s ravioli pasta is packed full of earthy porcini and portobello mushrooms. It’s a quick and easy meal. Simply boil for three minutes, drizzle with olive oil, and enjoy! JJ Whitley Blue Raspberry Vodka, £15, Sainsbury’s Premium Russian vodka with fruity notes of zesty raspberries and a lingering fruity spice to finish. It’s perfect for making top quality cocktails or to drink by itself with a cube of ice. Olly’s White Chocolate Pretzel Thins, £2.50, ollys-ollys.com Oven-baked, lightly salted and coated in creamy Belgian chocolate, they’re simply irresistible. Get ready for the ultimate sweet and salty experience. TGI Fridays Sesame Chicken Strips, £4, Iceland TGI Fridays iconic tender chicken strips doused in a thick and tangy Jack…

www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Venus helps you to make sense of what occurred in recent months. You no longer hold yourself responsible, but you see things for what they were. It’s taken a long time for you to forgive yourself for the hard time you put yourself through, but you’ve made it. Time spent with younger faces creates a stronger bond than you’ve had in months. Abouttime, too! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Neptune works his magic and you work out a better schedule for yourself. You ended last year feeling as if you were were moving backwards, not forwards. From here on in, you see with clarity what has to change and who you need to distance yourself from. Don’t cancel a family event that’s…

Hopping over the stepping-stones, I crossed the crystal clear lake. Turning around to look at my partner, Graham, 35, I’d never felt more in love. It was 25 July 2020, and Graham and I were on an adventure in Dovedale, in the Peak District. Neither of us had been there before. When we met three years earlier, we had bonded over our love for the great outdoors. On this particular weekend, we’d hired a shepherd’s hut to stay in for the night, just the two of us. My daughters, Tia, 17, Freya, 12, and Bella, nine, were with their dad for the weekend. Graham’s two kids, Frankie, 10 and Jaime, eight were staying with their mum. Luckily, the weather was perfect. Looking around me, we were surrounded by mountains, lush…