Table of contents for 22-Jun-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Giving a friendly wave from across the road, I rushed inside, closing the door behind me. Visiting my mum, Susanne*, 46, in summer 2012, when I was just 15, she lived in a different county compared to me and my dad, Peter*, 52 – so I’d see her every now and then during the holidays instead. Which meant that I would get to see my sister, too. And making friends with her neighbour Daniel, then 28, from across the street, we would bump into one another often – Mum inviting him over sometimes for a few drinks in the evening. Making awkward small talk, there was something I found a little unnerving about Daniel, although I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Despite that, he seemed friendly enough,…

Washing shower gel off my armpits, getting time to myself in a hot shower was pure bliss. Knowing that my six-month-old Teddy was settled down with my husband Steve, now 34, it was time for a pamper. Only as I glided my hand over my right breast, I paused. Oh my God, I thought. After finding a small lump in the same breast four years prior, which had been ruled out as a cyst by the medics at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, it had become huge out of nowhere. So much so, it felt like there was a boiled egg that had been cut in half under my skin. And with Teddy also refusing milk from my right breast, as well as really swollen glands and dimples showing up…

Alison Blackler has been a transformational mind coach for over 25 years, working in the NHS and in her own company 2minds, too. She works with individuals to understand their own mind, free themselves of unwanted habits and embrace their own individuality. (2-minds.co.uk) I feel like he’s being really disrespectful… Q My partner is flirty with other women in front of me – and whenever I pull him up on it, he says that I’m just being insecure. I don’t like this behaviour and want it to stop – how can I tell him that? Poppy, Norwich A There is a big difference between someone being insecure and having to manage a situation which feels inappropriate. It sounds like your partner is not taking any responsibility for how his behaviour…

INSTANT appointment With airborne allergens expert Max Wiseberg Horrible hay fever Q My hay fever is so bad that I struggle to leave the house in summer. I feel like I’ve tried everything. What can I do? Vicki, Southend A Try creating your own hay fever first aid kit. Your ideal kit will consist of one or more natural products, such as HayMax organic allergen barrier balm, Bee Prepared Daily Defence Immune Formula and a Qu-Chi Hayfever Band, only one antihistamine, only one steroid nasal spray, and eye drops. And here are some other practical things you can do which may help… • Wear wrap-around sunglasses when outdoors to prevent pollen particles coming into contact with your eyes. • Close windows and doors to prevent pollen blowing into your home.…

KEEP COOL With the summer heat closing in, keeping your pets comfortable can be a challenge. Luckily, Helen Tedds, animal welfare lecturer at Hartpury University, and Dani Richardson, veterinary nurse at Hartpury College, have come to the rescue! STOP… EVERYBODY FREEZE Popping pet toys in the freezer and playing inside is a great way to burn off extra energy while keeping them cool. SPRITZ SPRITZ Did you know that rabbits regulate their temperature through their ears? Give them a quick misting with cool water to keep them refreshed. SLATHER IT ON Animals with white fur and pink skin can be susceptible to sunburn and even skin cancer. Slather on a pet approved sun cream for protection! SUMMER STRESS Watch out for signs of heat stress in birds, including holding their…

Take inspiration from one of summer’s best activities and embrace your inner Dorothy, as gingham prints are here to stay – so much so, you won’t want to go home… To see some of the best picnic hotspots in the UK, head to page 46 for inspiration! To avoid looking like you are wearing an adult school uniform avoid loafers and socks! Smock dresses are great for all shapes and sizes – cinch in your waist with a belt!…

The Flower Curl, £35, Waver Bun, £22, Cordina Hair Imagine waking up in the morning with fresh curls that last all day long, without using any heat – amazing! Well with this genius invention from Cordina Hair, that’s exactly what can happen in your routine. And unlike the dressing gown curls that are currently trending, you can loop your hair around without the need for scrunchies to hold everything in place. This leaves no dents or frizz and it’s comfy to sleep in – say yes to perfect curls. Avoid a bad hair day! Verdict: GENIUS! Avoid a bad hair day! Haeyo Mayo Hair Nutrition Mask, £19.50, Look Fantastic or Amazon Now, this may look like it deserves to be in the kitchen cupboard, but it’s actually for the bathroom!…

A dara Bunn was a joy to be around. A golden girl, the 17-year-old was a straight-A student and beloved by all her friends and family. Raised by her mum Cassandra and stepdad Gary, in Sheldon, Illinois, Adara was looking towards the future. Heading into her senior year at Milford High School, she was dreaming of becoming a veterinarian. And her extracurricular activities were good, too. Adara – known lovingly as Sissy by her loved ones – was an avid reader and loved going fishing at the weekend, too. She was also a member of the Goodland Community Church in Indiana. But Sissy’s interests didn’t end there. She was also a collector of Disney memorabilia. So, when Sissy and Cassandra visited a local garage sale on 2 August 2019, she…

Be a winner! This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis. Organise your wardrobe with this 50-pack of non-slip, easy to use hangers which will keep your clothes in order. They can be used to hang scarves, belts and ties, as well as jumpers without stretching. You’ll have an easy to access wardrobe in no time. For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Fur-ry nice! I give the wildlife in my garden a hand by filling bird feeders with discarded dog fur. The birds use it to line their nests ready for spring chicks. Nicola Richardson, East Sussex Tip of the week Egg-cellent work I save all of my egg shells. When washed and crushed, they can be scattered onto potted plants…

I know you care When someone close to you is diagnosed with breast cancer, there are some things you can do to support them. • For more information, please visit: breastcancernow.org 1) Practical support Many people want to carry on doing as much as possible during their treatment. However, side effects can often make it more difficult and asking for help is not always easy. As well as thinking about what your friend or family member might need help with, it’s important to think about what you’re able to do and how much time you’re able to commit. Offering specific help means both parties understand what’s on offer. For example, rather than saying ‘what can I do for you?’ it might be better to say, ‘would you like me to…

Get the whole family to pitch in! Take a walk on the wild side and appreciate the UK in all its glory with a family camping trip – here’s everything you may need to get you started……

• To find out more please visit: toastedinkstudios.com 1. Tell us more about how you started your business – how was it born? I’ve always had a creative streak in me, but I was surprised at the quick growth of Toastedink. Growing up, my friends have always called me ‘the doodler’, however it had always remained as a hobby. It wasn’t until 2019, after me and my partner had a conversation about our creative interests, in which he started creating anime pieces by hand and posting them online, which nudged me to try out digital art. At the time, the pandemic had just begun and I put my art out to bring smiles to people’s faces. I began turning my illustrations into greetings products, which turned into stickers, then slowly…

Wincing, I squeezed a sports bra over my massive chest. Squashing my boobs inside, it still wasn’t enough – I still needed another bra on top. I’d always had huge breasts – when I hit puberty and started developing around the age of 14, they grew and grew. It wasn’t something that ran in my family at all – my mum and sister both had normalsized knockers. My big boobs had come out of nowhere. And because I was quite small – a petite size 6 – they looked even bigger. I hated being so out of proportion, and I was embarrassed by my boobs. With no uniform, my friends came to school in pretty little crop tops. But I’d spend hours each morning in front of the mirror, trying…

THIS WEEK: Get that summer glow… PROTECTION PERFECTION 1. Hawaiian Tropic Mineral Powder Brush SPF30, £12.99, Boots Top up your SPF on the go with Hawaiian Tropic’s brand-new Mineral Powder Brush. Brush over skin or on top of makeup to boost your sun protection. Leaving skin with a soft, natural glow, it will fit perfectly in your handbag – great for family days out! TOP TIP: Why not brush this onto your little ones' scalps for extra protection? 2. Soltan Hydrating Sensitive Protect Facial Suncare Cream with Niacinamide SPF50+, £5.50, Boots Brand-new to the Soltan family and infused with niacinamide, this facial suncream will help support the skin’s hydration while giving you the protection you need. Designed specifically for those with sensitive skin, this is a must for your summer…

www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April You thought you could not do all that was before you at the beginning of the month but how wrong you were. From here on in you start to see that you were actually far stronger than you gave yourself credit for. No longer do you rely on others to show you the way, but you lead by example. For many of your sign, this is the week you put your life on your best path in a decade. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Mercury enters cancer until July 11th and you evaluate who you are and where you’re going. By that same token, you now see who does not fit into your future plans and why. Certain characters won’t agree with…

We were in the countryside and my husband David said that local farmers were furious because they havebeen told to stop producing the round circular bales of hay in their fields. When I asked why he joked – the cows are now insisting on three square meals a day! Margaret Anderson, Sunderland Here I am holding up my story. I had a tennis-ball sized tumour removed and now campaign for better brain tumour awareness. Helen Green, Walsall STAR LETTER Here is our three-month-old kitten Kat, trying to hide amongst the flowers. Lucy Travell, Gloucester I had bought a bag of Celebration chocolates. When I asked my wife where they were, this is what I found! Mike Lunn, Beith If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive…

Placing the new curtains on the pole, in front of the three bay windows, I stood back to admire the view. ‘Well, what you going to do with all this?’ my hubby Dave, 60, said, staring at the pile of now old curtains draped on the floor back in 2019. Turning my hand to anything when given the chance, I wasn’t afraid to give something a go – and being quite an arty person, the idea of getting crafty was the perfect excuse. And I had just the idea in mind. Recently coming back from holiday, Dave and I found ourselves standing at baggage claim, watching the conveyor belt as it churned out the same black holdalls and suitcases over and over again. ‘Well, I could make some luggage,’ I…

Grabbing another book from the toppling pile scattered on the bedroom floor, I had to make sure that everyone was sitting comfortably. With Luca, then three, and Mila, then one, propped up with a pillow in bed, it was story time – something that formed a part of our bedtime routine. And the kids certainly had their favourites, with mountains of stories in their bedrooms in our New York home. Me and my husband Fabio, now 42, would have a lot of fun putting on voices and getting the kids to point out what they could spot as we flicked through the tale. Chuckling and babbling along, Mila seemed to be having a great time – something that me and Fabio had been told to look out for. Mila had…

Leaning back in my chair, I let out a happy sigh. I was with my fiancé, Alex, 51, and his colleagues from his work as a carpenter. I felt deliciously full after enjoying a bank holiday BBQ with them all at his boss Lee’s house – Lee had huge grounds, and Alex and I had been staying in a campervan there while he completed his work. Over the May bank holiday in 2022 we had a few friends round for the afternoon, and had a great time relaxing and enjoying the spring weather. Lee’s daughter Lucy was due to have her 17th birthday at their house that evening. ‘Right, I’m going to move my quad bike quickly, just in case her mates try and mess about with it!’ Lee announced,…

A nautical theme is chic and fun for summer!…