Table of contents for 17-Mar-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Pulling a pink leotard over my head and grabbing my matching shoes, I was ready for ballet. I was only three, but loved everything to do with dance and I signed up to a whole range of different classes from jazz to contemporary. In secondary school a new hobby topped them all – cheerleading! The colourful poms and eager team spirit was something I couldn’t get enough of, plus the lifts and chanting was a perk, too. Attending practice five times a week, our team was driven to achieve it all. After a lot of hard work our cheer team had won UK, British, and World Champion titles. The thrill of cheer was a feeling like no other, but there came a time when I had to have both feet…

Opening up my letterbox to check for post, I found a red envelope. As I opened it up, I realised it was a Valentine’s card. Love, Craig. I’d known Craig Pilkington for years through a friend, but I’d never really spoken to him. Recently though, we’d got chatting and we’d been exchanging messages ever since. The sweet card sealed the deal. This could really be something. Craig, 34, was sweet and kind. Do you fancy grabbing something to eat? he text me. Go on, then, I replied. I felt excited. As a single mum-of-two, it was nice to feel wanted. ‘I really like you,’ Craig said, as we shared prawn crackers. He was charming. We hit it off, and our romance was a whirlwind. He made me feel special and…

We’re a nation of tea lovers – but did you know your daily brew (or five) is good for your brain and heart health, too? A cuppa can lower stress levels, blood pressure and cognitive decline, and significantly reduce the risk of a heart attack. With one in four Brits experiencing mental health issues in the last year, a new study – Tea for Minds and Hearts: A Scoping Review – has concluded that the humble cuppa could help us get on top of mental health concerns and benefit heart health, too. Dr Carrie Ruxton, dietitian and Tea Advisory Panel (TAP) member, says: ‘Tea drinking could aid relaxation and is associated with lower stress, dementia risk and cognitive decline. ‘Drinking tea regularly lowers blood pressure and significantly reduces the risk…

Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart, nutritionist and chartered psychologist, shares her top five ingredients to give your smoothies a daily nutrient boost. For glowing skin and hair: Collagen Studies have found that taking five to 10g of collagen daily can improve skin elasticity, hydration and reduce wrinkles depth. For energy and stronger immunity: Reishi and cordyceps mushrooms Studies have found that these medicinal ‘shrooms can improve your energy, immunity, gut health and ability to deal with stress. For five-a-day: FOGA superfood powders FOGA’s Plantshakes provide you with the equivalent of 160g of fresh fruit and veg, which is two of your five a day! For both hormonal wellbeing and sluggish bowels: Flaxseeds Flax are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid that has been found to reduce blood pressure. Flaxseeds…

Waking up in the middle of the night, I crept downstairs. Sneaking into the kitchen, I helped myself to a slice of cake. My mum had always baked delicious homemade cakes and I couldn’t resist them. Not only were they delicious, but at the young age of 13, food had become my source of comfort. Tragically, in just three short years, we had lost my younger brother and sister. My little sister was just 20 months old when she died in a car accident, and my brother just 10 when cancer stole him from us. I’d sneak into the kitchen of a night My whole family were grieving, and I felt so alone. Sneaking down to the kitchen of a night and using my pocket money on sweets, the pounds…

Wrapped up warm against the blustery wind, I rubbed my hands together. ‘Go on, Louis!’ I shouted from the sidelines of the pitch. ‘You can do it!’ When he scored a goal, my husband Jason, 50, and I both cheered loudly. Watching him slide around on his knees in an enthusiastic celebration, I smiled proudly. I loved seeing my boy doing well and having fun. When he was a baby, I’d wondered if he’d be able to do ‘normal’ things like his older siblings Hannah, now 22, and Nathan, 18. Because Louis was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome when he was just a few weeks old. It was a huge shock. While I was pregnant, I’d never been offered a test for Down’s syndrome. I knew there was a tiny chance,…

DODGER, BBC ONE Welcome to the hilarious and hair-raising adventures of Dodger, Fagin, his gang, and a colourful gallery of Victorian characters. Join them as they duck and dive their way through the tough London streets, trying to keep one step ahead of the police. This 10-part series kicks off as 12-year-old orphan Jack Dawkins escapes the clutches of evil mill owner, Mr.Canker. With the help of farm girl Charley, their journey leads them to a mysterious figure, Fagin, and his infamous gang. Hold onto your top hats – this is going to be one heck of a ride! Crufts, 2022, Channel 4 The world’s most famous dog show returns! There will be full coverage of all four days as 20,000 dogs head to the NEC Birmingham with Crufts marking…

TREAT YOURSELF You don’t have to go to the salon to get fabulous feet. Instead, follow this simple guide to achieve the perfect at-home pedi. With just three products from Palmer’s, you can make your feet feel gorgeous every day! £4.99 each from Superdrug Step 1: Give your feet a bath. Pop your feet into lukewarm water and relax. Top tip – if you have any, throw in some bath salts for an extra lathering of luxury. Step 2: Use Palmer’s Foot Magic Scrub to exfoliate tough skin on the feet. Work into rough, cracked areas on the patches of the heel and sole. Step 3: When you’re ready, dry your feet and work in Palmer’s Foot Magic to moisturise and soften even the roughest of skin. Step 4: For…

Have you heard of? The Great Daffodil Appeal is back and is taking place throughout this month. With your help, Marie Curie support people in the UK dealing with illness, death, and bereavement. This year, they have created a thoughtful spring collection. From pin badges, shopping bags and gorgeous home and garden buys, these products will brighten up your life whilst helping the charity. Marie Curie will be holding a Day of Reflection on 23 March to help people to connect with those bereaved due to the pandemic. • Prices from £2.99, visit shop.mariecurie.org.uk WHAT’S TRENDING Wedding bells and ringing! With wedding season just around the corner, many couples are planning their big day. And now, brides and grooms can choose a unique day. The Crystal Maze Live has announced…

Follow it! Furniture Cocoa French toast Serves 2 ◻ 20g ground flaxseed◻ 260ml milk (or dairy free alternative)◻ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract◻ 45ml maple syrup◻ 25g Food Thoughts cocoa powder◻ 2 teaspoons butter (or dairy free alternative)◻ 4 slices of white bread◻ 40g Food Thoughts dark chocolate chips◻ Coconut yoghurt to serve◻ Fresh raspberries to serve 1 In a large shallow dish, add the flaxseed, milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup and cocoa powder. Combine the mixture with a whisk. 2 Heat a large non-stick pan on a medium heat and add one teaspoon of butter. Whilst it melts, take a slice of bread and submerge it into the cocoa liquid. Turn it over to coat the other side, then take it out of the liquid mix. 3 Allow any excess…

ACROSS 7 Senseless (5) 8 Slight possibility (3-6) 10 The _ Resurrections, 2021 sci-fi film starring 13 Across, 26 Across, 5 Down & 24 Down (6) 11 City of London ward councillors (8) 12 Liquid used in cookery (5,3) 13 Carrie-Anne _, star of the 2000 mystery film Memento (4) 15 Undergoing tests or scrutiny (2,5) 17 Cricketer (7) 20 Spoken or verbal (4) 22 Shrub with fragrant flowers (8) 25 Victories (8) 26 Keanu _, star of the 2020 comedy film Bill & Ted Face the Music (6) 27 Distressed (9) 28 Neckwear item (5) DOWN 1 Involving (9) 2 Etcher (8) 3 Good-natured and sociable (7) 4 The teaching world (8) 5 Neil Patrick _, star of the sitcom How I Met Your Mother (6) 6 UK exams…

Stepping on the scales, I looked down at the number and felt a sinking feeling. How is that possible? I thought. I tracked everything I was eating and drinking – everything that passed my lips was written down in the notes app in my phone, so I could make sure I stayed within my daily calorie range. But I’d still put on a few pounds. I cut down my calorie intake until I got back down to my target weight, but then the cycle would happen again. It left me feeling down, like a prisoner in my own body. It took over my whole life. I ate healthily and exercised regularly, and I couldn’t work out where I was going wrong. I contracted Covid early on in the pandemic, and…

Orli Jewellery is best known for its twist on everyday pieces. The beauty of Orli Jewellery lies not just in its affordable price points, but also in its high-quality, its thought-out designs and its truly beautiful pink packaging. There is a curated mix of delicate items to statement pieces that can be engraved and personalised, making them the most beautiful and unique gifts. The website, Orlijewellery.com, also features eye-catching crossbody bags with quirky interchangeable straps, modal and wool scarves and other stunning accessories. Use code WOMEN20 and you’ll receive a 20% discount off all Orli jewellery and accessories at Orlijewellery.com This offer entitles you to 20% off on full price Orli jewellery & accessories, at www.orlijewellery.com when using code WOMEN20 at the check out. Excludes sale goods, gift cards and cannot…

Creeping into a darkened bedroom, you quietly check on your sleeping baby, expecting to find them peacefully snoozing in the cot. You see them asleep on their tummy, and go to gently roll them back over. But then you realise they’re not breathing. Panicked, you call for help – but your baby is getting bluer by the second, and you’re terrified the ambulance won’t make it in time to save them. Would you know what steps to take to save your baby’s life? It’s a terrifying scenario, and every parent’s worst nightmare – but it’s one that is all too common. Whether it’s a medical emergency or a catastrophic accident, any number of scary things could happen to children in your care. Or maybe you’re out and about, and see…

Jo Cooke, 53, and Alison Law, 43, from Essex, were determined to change the face of plus size bridal. After four successful series of Curvy Brides Boutique, the world was plunged into lockdown. With a focus on mental health, these ladies of luxury knew they wanted to help. So, they switched designer dresses for rubber gloves and have been tidying up the nation one house at a time. Here, we speak to Jo and Alison on their journey from luxury to grime. Catch up on season one of The Big Clean now on Discovery+ How did you meet? Alison says: ‘We met 19 years ago on our kid’s first day at nursery. We just got each other and over the years, we watched our families grow. We’re like Kim and…

Do you want to change your life in six weeks by reducing the carbs in your diet? This recipe book is for you! The Low Carb Weight-Loss Cookbook, (Kyle Books, £20), by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi, offers different options for you whatever your health goals. Spanning from strict keto to a moderate low-carb guide for those who want to keep their metabolic health in check. Slow-cooked pulled pork This is a hot and spicy sauce, if you prefer it mild, use regular sweet paprika and omit the chilli. If you don’t want to use pork shoulder, economical meaty ribs work just as well. Serves 6 ◻ 1.2–1.4kg boneless or bone-in pork shoulder, string removed, or meaty pork ribs◻ 1 tsp of salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper◻ 3…

Watching my son Samuel, then six, playing so nicely with his little sister Addy, who had just turned four, I smiled. They could bicker like cat and dog at times, but it was clear to see their sibling bond was so special. I’d been worried about Addy. She’d always been a normal child in every way, hitting all of her milestones. But I’d noticed in the past year she’d been struggling with her speech. I hadn’t been too concerned at first – Samuel had struggled with his speech at that age, too, and after a bit of speech therapy he was fine. But that hadn’t helped Addy. She could say the odd word like ‘mumma’ and ‘dada’, but other than that she just didn’t seem to be progressing any further…

Cleaning mucky pups! Cleaning and laundry experts at Dr.Beckmann (drbeckmann.co.uk) have shared their tips on taking extra care when cleaning a pet-loving home, including the areas you may need to pay attention to first. For we all know that muddy paws and carpet accidents can be an absolute nightmare… CARPETS Whether it’s muddy paw prints or an abundance of pet hair, carpets are the battleground for all pet stains. If you’ve found that you’ve got mud on the carpet, resist the temptation to wipe at the stain. Let the mud dry and scrape off the dried dirt, then tackle the mark with a stain remover. PILLOWS & CUSHIONS These items will be getting some extra use, who doesn’t enjoy cuddles with their pooch on the sofa?! As a result of…

Plan ahead and make the Easter holidays one the kids will never forget. For the first time ever, Dino Kingdom comes to London – with life-like, moving dinosaurs who have set up camp in the city’s parklands, ready to roar and snarl at those brave enough to get close and personal. From 1 April to 18 April, Dino Kingdom at Gunnersbury Park offers an incredible 100 collections, including life-size dinosaurs and other creatures. Bringing the infamous creatures back to life, be prepared to be transported back in time for an unforgettable adventure. Waiting to greet you will be the King of the Tyrant Lizards and the most famous dino of them all – the Tyrannosaurus Rex! Let your imagination run wild in this ultimate family experience. • Tickets available now!…