Table of contents for 15-Feb-2024 in Pick Me Up!

INSTANT appointment With Dr Mariyam Malik, GP at Pall Mall Medical (pallmallmedical.co.uk) Speechless Q I’m losing my voice! It’s not painful to speak but my voice is so hoarse. How can I stop this? Laura, Stoke-on-Trent A A hoarse voice can stem from various ailments, including infections like colds, flu or laryngitis that all cause inflammation of the vocal cords. It can also be caused by overuse of the vocal cords or underlying medical conditions, too. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may cause stomach acid to irritate the vocal cords which can lead to hoarseness. Chronic conditions like allergies, asthma, or smoking can contribute, too, as can vocally straining from overuse or misuse of the voice. Neurological issues affecting the vocal cords, such as nerve damage or paralysis, could also be…

Fast Thaw Chopping Board, £19.99, Dunelm Designed to thaw your food up to three times faster than leaving it by itself, this chopping board really is a kitchen saviour. Drawing out the cold from your food using natural conductivity, you’ll be ready to whip up a storm quickly. Then, flip it over to get chopping. The rubber edge means the board won’t slip, the knife hone keeps your knives sharp and it’s dishwasher safe – perfect for a steak night! Verdict: GENIUS! Chop it like it’s hot Willy the Warmer Heated Plushie Penis, £20, MenKind Want to cuddle up to something warm and soft? How about Willy the Penis? You read that right! Willy is a phallic shaped microwave plushie to keep you toasty. If he gets dirty, simply wipe him…

Unloading your trolley at the check-out, you can almost see the prices adding up with every passing item From your kitchen cupboard staples like milk, bread and eggs, to a few rogue snacks tossed in, everything seems to cost an arm and a leg nowadays. I swear it wasn’t that expensive last time, you might think. And while it’s true that the cost of food has increased by 8% as of December last year, as recorded by the Office for National Statistics, there is one way you can avoid the surging prices at your local supermarket. Coupons can certainly be a lifesaver when it comes to saving money on your weekly shop. But gone are the days of scouring through supermarket magazines and leaflets, cutting out paper coupons Every week,…

Buy of the week Flowers – a classic Valentine’s Day staple. But while they bloom at first, they soon start to wilt and end up in the bin. What if you could give the gift of everlasting flowers though? We love these beautiful bunches from LEGO – whether you go for a full bouquet of vibrant red roses or just a couple of stems, you’ll get the joy of building your flowers and then proudly displaying them, too. If you fancy something a bit more decorative, go for the Heart Ornament – with 254 pieces, including extra accessories for customisation, it’ll keep you busy for hours. Perfect to gift a loved one this Valentine’s Day – or treat yourself! ●From £10.99, visit: lego.com Fun day out Who doesn’t love fluffy…

Add some fun with quirky designs…

It’s Pancake Day on 13 February – whether you prefer wafer-thin crêpes or fluffy pancake stacks, check out these simple but yummy recipes from Aldi to inspire you. ● Please visit: aldi.co.uk Maca and Oat Pancakes SERVES: 12PREP TIME: 10 MINUTESCOOKING TIME: 10 MINUTES INGREDIENTS: □ 130g plain flour□ 30g porridge oats□ 25g maca powder□ ½ tsp ground cinnamon□ 1 tsp baking powder□ ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda□ Pinch of salt□ 250ml sweetened almond drink□ 30ml coconut oil□ 30ml maple syrup□ Extra coconut oil, to fry METHOD: 1. Mix the plain flour, porridge oats, maca powder, ground cinnamon, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt together in a bowl and whisk well. 2. Add the almond drink, coconut oil and maple syrup and mix well. 3. Heat some oil in…

Trying to peek at the back of my throat, I stuck my tongue out in the mirror. With a whiteish film covering it and a few pinkish spots nearing my tonsils, that explained why I had been feeling under the weather at the start of 2020. ‘It must be tonsilitis,’ I ahhhed to my little sister Kaira, now 14, as she had come over for the afternoon to help me look after my son Dominic, then one. I couldn’t eat dinner without being sick With my partner at the time working away from home a lot, my mum Claire, 40, dad Brian, 41, and my brother Kye, 20, would rally around to lend me a helping hand. Which was something I felt like I needed more during that time. With…

Erupting in a fit of giggles on the sofa, I tried to let on that this wasn’t a laughing matter. ‘It’s not funny!’ I teased my partner James, now 36, trying to hold back a gleaming smile. ‘It wasn’t supposed to happen – I’m on birth control.’ Staring at two very clear lines on the pregnancy test on 6 March 2022, coincidentally the same day as my 32nd birthday, it was the best present I could have received – even if it was a complete surprise You’re going to be a big sister,’ me and James told our daughter Freya, now 10 – something she had been patiently waiting for. And I mean the good news opened a can of worms – she had plenty of questions to ask that…

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.…

Where to go Cardiff Castle Nearly 400,000 people visit Cardiff Castle each year. There’s plenty to see and learn – a perfect day out for budding historians. Explore the Roman Fort Grounds and visualise yourself in the Victorian Palace Rooms. The castle even has its own guide app. Don’t forget to visit a hidden gem just outside of Cardiff Castle, too. The city’s famous Animal Wall boasts 15 stunning sculptures that are free to admire. This unique Grade I listed spectacle features animals such as lions, hyenas and even a pair of raccoons. ● Admission starts at £14.50. For more, please visit: cardiffcastle.com National Museum Cardiff A free attraction perfect for the whole family, National Museum Cardiff is an educational and immersive experience catering to all interests. From dinosaurs to…

While a lacy lingerie set can get us feeling sexy and free, there’s nothing worse than fishing out your favourite bra from the washing machine to find the lace ripped and ruined. There are so many laundry know-hows to consider before popping your bras and swimwear in the machine to ensure they keep their shape and maintain their support. Be in the know with these top tips from Michelle Duncan at Anita UK – you’ll feel supported in no ● For more information, please visit: anita.com 1. Skip the washing machine Handwash your delicates gently in warm water. A quick soak in a gentle detergent and a cold-water rinse is all they need. If you really must machine wash, use a mesh lingerie bag and wash on the delicate cycle…

Pulling up in my sparkly pink wrapped Beetle, I knew what reaction I was going to get. For it was the same one every single time. ‘There she is, hi Barbie!’ my friends, family and colleagues would tease every time that they saw me. And they weren’t wrong. The truth is, I’d always been pink and Barbie mad. Vibrant in personality and colourful in my lifestyle, too, that was just the way that I was. In fact, for my hen party, before tying the knot with Andy, now 47, I managed to get everyone dressed as Barbie. Sporting the finest shades of pink, wearing tutus and tiaras, we even had a hot pink limo to ride into town in style. And then, I even had a subtle nod to Barbie…

Braille is a writing system of raised dots that blind and partially sighted people can read by touch. This enables people to have the same access to reading as sighted people. This opens up the door to literacy, personal freedom and security. It was invented by Louis Braille after he lost his sight in an accident in 1824 – he was just 15 years old at the time. While audio is available, Braille can help with understanding punctuation, grammar and spelling and help people gain understanding on how text is formatted on a page. Letters and numbers are made up of a rectangle with six dots in two columns and each letter and number uses a different combination of raised dots. It can be translated to most languages. The RNIB…

Waving a cardboard sign in the air, I was surrounded At just eight years old, the crowds towered above me, blocking the sky with their homemade signs. Beside me, my mum Karin, 63, and my dad Dave, 63, waved their placards, too. Pro-choice is evil, one read. We need Christian leaders, read another. ‘We’re saving babies’ lives,’ our pastor had said, before we all headed out to a local abortion clinic. Being so young, I didn’t truly know what an abortion was, or why we needed to protest. And being raised a strict Christian Fundamentalist, I knew no better. Spending every Sunday at our local church in Washington D.C., I learned everything I knew there. At five years old, I was learning about salvation in a church classroom. ‘If you’ve…

A Parisian stripe, red lip and something sexy underneath – it’s the season of love after all. Treat yourself this February, with all things pink, red and fun to get you started. Fall head over heels… Navy and red are a colour dream team – perfect for all skin tones Button up your cardigan to make it more versatile – this way you can style it as a jumper, too!…

THE CHEEK OF IT 1. Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Palette, £9.99, Boots With four dazzling shades to suit your look and mood, the Solstice palette from Sleek will give you a supercharged glow. Lightweight and easy to blend, these go-to highlighters will give you that serious 'wow' factor. Under £10 for four shades, what's not to love? 2. Lottie London Frosted Heart Multi Shade Highlighter, £8.95, Lottie London Can you feel the love? Well, this highlighter from Lottie London will give you all the feels. With dreamy gold, pink and bronze tones, this highlighter melts into the skin for a heavenly glow. 3. Collection Blush, £4.99, Superdrug We all love a dupe and this one from Collection is just the ticket. Compared to a high-end favourite, for less than a fiver,…

Nicola Vanlint is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and founder of the Wellness Rooms – a small group of associate cognitive therapists and practitioners specialising in anxiety, depression, stress and trauma. For more, please search: Greenwich Wellness Rooms and bacp.co.uk They are like a leech! Q Someone at my workplace has latched on to me as a friend, but I don’t want to meet them outside of work. How do I let them down gently? Holly, Tunbridge Wells A Firstly, I am interested in your choice of words ‘latched onto me’. Is this a positive interpretation, that you feel this person values your presence and enjoys your company? Or does it feel overwhelming for you? Either way it's essential to communicate your feelings and establish…

Do you love peanut butter? Well, you’re going to love this cookbook! The Peanut Butter Cookbook by ManiLife will inspire you to unleash the potential of your jar. • Pick up a jar of ManiLife Peanut Butter from Sainsbury’s • The Peanut Butter Cookbook by ManiLife, £20, Amazon Mustard Greens Toastie YOU WILL NEED: ◻ 1 spring green cabbage◻ 40g salted butter◻ salt and pepper◻ 2 tsp cumin seeds◻ 2 tsp mustard seeds◻ 150g extra-strong cheese (we like a mixture of Cheddar and Red Leicester, but it’s up to you!)◻ 4 large slices of sourdough bread◻ 2 tbsp mayonnaise◻ 3 tbsp crunchy ManiLife Peanut Butter◻ 8 to 10 pickled jalapeños (depending on how spicy you like it) 1 Finely slice the spring greens. Melt half the butter in a large…

Linda Frickey was someone who could always raise a smile. She doted on her family – she met up with her sisters every week for what they called ‘The Hen Party’, having grown up in a tight-knit brood in the Louisiana bayou. And she loved spending time with her husband of 36 years Rickey, two sons and four grandchildren – especially shopping with her Princess Prudence. She couldn’t go anywhere without making a new pal or bumping into someone she knew – even the families she served as a life insurance agent became firm friends. But that was Linda all over – kind, caring and compassionate, too. Looking forward to retiring and spending more time with Rickey, Linda had her golden years ahead of her. Only, back on 21 March…

ARIES 21 March–20 April This is one Valentine’s week which will see a very different Aries than we’ve seen in years gone by. No longer are you willing to wait for others to make up their mind, and neither are you willing to wait to make your move. You’re finally claiming the life you want to live – and not a moment too soon, my friend. Don’t be afraid to fight for what you really want in life. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Some astrologers would say you’ve been living in the past. I would say you’ve been making sense of all you’ve gone through. Others expect you to pay for them this weekend, but they would not do the same for you. Please don’t make the…