Table of contents for 2-Mar-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Sitting at home in front of my laptop, I logged onto my Facebook account. When I saw the message icon flashing at the top of the page, I felt a pang of excitement. I can’t believe she got back to me, I thought. Since lockdown hit in July 2020, I’d been stuck at home in Glasgow, and with my family all the way back in Port Talbot, I felt lonely. So, I’d decided to take up a new language. I already knew Welsh and a bit of French, and I wanted to give Spanish a go. I’d joined a Facebook languages group and messaged a lady I saw on there. It was a stab in the dark, but I wrote her a message in my best Spanish, to see if…

We spoke to cleanfluencer Laura Mountford, who reveals her top tips for a big spring clean: Please follow: @lauracleanaholic for more cleaning tips and tricks FRESHEN UP – Freshen up your furnishings by giving them a deep clean. Don’t forget to pull them out and clean underneath! Upholstery can be cleaned by vacuuming then using liquid laundry detergent and warm water to gently wipe using a cloth. NEW LOOK – For a quick refresh, duvet covers, cushions, throws, towels and candles can be changed up to give your home a new look for the season. Switch to cooler cottons and linens, floral scented candles and fruity fragrances. LET THE SUN SHINE – Clean those windows and let the sunlight in! I use washing up liquid and warm water to give windows a…

Pregnancy pains Q How can I improve gut health whilst pregnant? I’m nearly 12 weeks pregnant and struggling with bloating and diarrhoea. Kimberly, Walsall A Bloating and other digestive changes are very common during pregnancy and particularly during the first trimester. Certain foods may trigger gas in some people, including beans, legumes and vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts. As these are healthy foods that we would not recommend removing from your diet, it may be useful to keep a diary of what you are eating and note any particularly gassy episodes. You can then limit the specific foods that appear to be affecting you. Reducing sugar intake (and particularly carbonated drinks) may also help to reduce fermentation in the gut. Focus on drinking lots of water, eating…

With flowers coming up and the sunshine glowing, it’s time to start thinking about your spring style. Lightweight and daring – don’t be afraid to dress up for the occasion with Very. Shop online now at: very.co.uk THE STYLE ATTIC Leigh Unwin, 36, from Leeds, started something special from any empty room in her house… Hearing a knock on my front door, I anxiously leapt up from the sofa. ‘Are you the lady that is selling clothes from her attic?’ the stranger said, raring to come in. ‘That’s me!’ I laughed. And although it sounded like a strange concept, it was a business idea that seemed to work since everything had changed for me. Working full-time in the fashion industry and finding out me and my partner Mikey, 39, were…

MAKE YOUR CHEEKS FLUSH Blush is certainly having a moment right now. Whether you prefer dewy or matte, bold or flushed, there’s a product for everyone! With Essence and Catrice, you can achieve your perfect look for less than a fiver, with their new SS23 range! ● Available from Just My Look Essence Baby Got Blush, £2.99 A visible boost of freshness in a bottle. This creamy stick will give your cheeks a gorgeous flushed look – dewy and natural. Simply apply and blend – it could not be easier to do. Perfect for a no makeup, makeup look. Catrice Cheek Lover Marbled Blush, £4.99 With its unique marbling, this blush is a real eye-catcher. Thanks to the highly pigmented texture with a fine shimmer, this will give you a…

Travelling the globe, it was Carolyn Byington’s life goal to improve every aspect of herself. Whether that was planning family holidays or choosing to enrol on various courses in Japan and Germany, she was on a mission to learn more about the world – and the people that were in it. Receiving a double major in International Affairs, Anthropology and Sociology, graduating from Lafayette College, Easton, in 2015, it was clear that Carolyn, 26, was extremely gifted. And with a multitude of friends scattered all over the world, what wasn’t there to love? An avid volunteer in the New Jersey community, as well as loving all things music from country to opera, Carolyn had a supportive network around her. In fact, her family members even coined a term of endearment…

Catch Claire live on Facebook 7 days of hope & happiness with Claire Petulengro www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Venus and Jupiter promise good times and with the positive mindset you’ll be adopting in the days ahead, there is nothing too big for you to take on and no problem you can’t solve. Those who did not help you professionally or personally recently will be outshone by those who recognise your star quality, Aries. This is your time, so make sure you aim high! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Try to show appreciation to those who help, or have helped you. It’s how you’ll make sure the next stage of your journey is one which you can benefit from and enjoy. Work you do for free this…

We’re loving We’ve all found ourselves tapping our feet to the new Miley Cyrus hit, Flowers – but did you know that since it was released, there’s been a 1,400% increase in women buying themselves flowers? Well, we’re all for it here at Pick Me Up! Treat yourself to a blooming bunch from Eflorist – we’re loving their bright and cheerful Fiery Rose bouquet. After all, you deserve it! ● Visit: eflorist.co.uk What’s trending It’s only February, but the shops are already filled with Easter eggs – and who can say no to those delicious chocolatey treats?! Well, now you’ve got an excuse to indulge early – because if you unwrap a coveted half milk, half white chocolate Cadbury Creme Egg, you could win up to £10,000! But only if…

A new lease of life We all want the best for our four-legged friends, but what happens when your pooch develops a disability? It can feel like you are plunged into the deep end and you may not know where to start. Peppa’s Place is here to help – an incredible organisation which provides wheelchairs, advice and support for disabled dogs across the UK. This week, we’ve spoken to founder Jenna Hydes, all about her incredible Boxer x Lurcher cross, Peppa, who inspired it all! All of the incredible dogs involved are here to show that wherever there’s a wheel, there’s a way! ● To find out more please visit: peppas-place.co.uk or search Peppa’s Place on Facebook Peppa’s story: Watching our Boxer x Lurcher cross, run around happily in the…

Bracing myself for a sharp scratch, it wasn’t long before a cotton ball was placed over the incision point. ‘Just sit yourself down for 15 minutes before you go home,’ the nurse insisted. Working as a community pharmacist throughout lockdown, keeping on top of my Covid vaccinations was necessary, so taking myself to get my booster on 9 March 2021, I didn’t batter an eyelid. Experiencing the usual side effects the first time round, the idea of having another jab didn’t bother me – it was just something I needed to do. ‘How did it go?’ my husband Jordon, now 31, asked when I got home later that evening. ‘All good,’ I replied. Only, as I settled down for the evening, I found myself reaching for both the max amount…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. This 61L laundry hamper folds down to conserve storage space when it’s not in use. The breathable design allows your laundry to air and the rattan style will suite any room in your home, too! For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Sticky situation I purchased a new cooker and it had a big sticker right on the front door. After trying every trick to remove it, I tried nail varnish remover with acetone on cotton wool. It removed the sticky backing instantly! Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham Eye for beauty As a bit of a beauty junkie, I sometimes get a little confused on which one to use first. Numbering them means I am…

If you are aged between 50 and 71, you will be invited for a breast screening every three years – if you’ve not had one before, it can be daunting, but here’s a step-by-step guide to ease any worries. ● Please visit: nhs.uk 1. You’ll need to undress in a private changing area, so you are naked from the waist up. You may be given a hospital gown to put on. Then you’ll be called into the X-ray room and the mammographer will explain what will happen. 2. The mammographer will place your breast onto the X-ray machine. It will be squeezed between two pieces of plastic, to keep it still while the X-rays are taken. This takes a few seconds, and you need to stay very still. Your breast…

Jess Barron, founder of Thimble and Fabric, is a seamstress and mum of two girls, who makes craft kits! Starting in lockdown in 2020, she used embroidery as a way to destress and unwind after experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety. Now, she is passionate about helping other people to manage their own mental health through creativity. Here are just some of the gorgeous projects that Jess has to offer. ● Visit: thimbleandfabric.com or give Jess a follow on Instagram: @thimbleandfabric Friendship Bracelet Kit, £14 This is an easy, mess-free craft ideal for rainy days indoors on the sofa – or even sunny days while on your holidays! With easy-to-follow instructions for five different bracelet patterns, plus a link to a detailed step-by-step video, this nostalgic kit is perfect for children…

Adjusting my webcam, I was ready for my shift. Sat in sexy lingerie, I welcomed my first client. ‘How are you?’ I purred. As a cam girl, I had a variety of different clients who paid for my services. And while some wanted to talk about my day and others liked a little teasing, some wanted something explicit. But I liked the variety of my job – no two days were the same – and as a 23-year-old single mother, it was a sure way to make a bit of cash without spending too much time away from my children. I got into camming after doing work as a glamour model. And I preferred it by miles. It felt safer and easier to do – if I felt creeped out,…

Wooden Toast Tongs, £3.49, Lakeland The last week of February means it’s a national celebration of the best thing since sliced bread – toast. Savoury, sweet, and a pick me up for when you’re poorly, it’s a glorious snack. But it’s not always easy to get it out of the toaster… Using a magnetic set of wooden tongs means no more burnt fingertips, and you can safely pull bread out of the slot without shocking yourself. A small but mighty kitchen gadget! Verdict: GENIUS! Do you need these? Take a bite… Maurice Bennet AKA ‘Toastman’ is a New Zealand artist who uses a very bizarre medium – toast! Varying the burntness of the bread, he uses lighter shades to highlight, and cremated slices for shadows, creating the likes of US presidents,…

Seasonal eating is one of the best things to do for your health and the planet. The hearty leek is in full swing through to April, but many of us overlook this delicacy. That’s why, Helen Best-Shaw, AKA @fussfreeflavours, is helping you make the most of this vegetable. ● Follow Helen on Instagram: @fussfreeflavours French-Style Chicken and Leek Casserole YOU WILL NEED: ◻ 2 tbsp olive oil ◻ 4 chicken thighs◻ 2 rashers back bacon (or 4 rashers streaky), cut into small pieces◻ 1 small onion, peeled and cut into pieces◻ 200g baby mushrooms, trim stalk and wipe with dry kitchen paper◻ 1 large leek, cut into small slices ◻ 400g small salad potatoes◻ 350ml chicken stock◻ Chopped fresh parsley to serve 1 Add half the oil to a casserole dish and…

Get your hiking boots on and hit the trails, as spring flowers start bursting into full bloom.  From a romantic walk to a fun family day out – you will literally be smelling the roses! Here are four pretty flower trails to get you started… Muker Meadows, Yorkshire Dales The Yorkshire Dales is home to a variety of beautiful meadows, perfect for a spring walk. A wide range of wildflowers and grasses – including wood cranesbill, melancholy thistle, pignut, lady’s mantle, rough hawkbit, cat’s ear and sweet vernal grass – will lead you through the picture-perfect meadows. The huge variety of flora means there will be lots of wildlife out to spot, too. A flagged footpath runs through the meadows from the nearby village of Muker, and with 12 meadows…

Hearing the familiar ping of FaceTime connecting, I smiled. I had been looking forward to speaking to my friend Zak all day. We’d met in December 2021 online, and spoke every day. Zak, 22, lived in Manchester while I was all the way in New York, US. We’d become closer and closer as time went on. I really loved talking to him. ‘Have you seen this?’ Zak said, jolting my thoughts. My phone buzzed and I realised he had sent a screenshot of a Facebook page. Only 22 chips… the caption read, and I realised people were counting chips. I was intrigued. ‘What’s with the chips?’ I asked. Wetherspoons Paltry Chip Count is a Facebook group whereby members count and post how many chips they received on their meal when…