Table of contents for 14-Jul-2016 in Pick Me Up!

What A Swizz! I bought some fancy new sunglasses as a reward for 10 weeks not smoking! Trouble is, the sun’s hardly been out since I got ’em… Never mind, I’m wearing them indoors anyway! 3,777 …that's how many miles away my oldest boy is. He’s in the Yukon for work, and sent me this selfie of his Monday morning commute. Not jealous at all! What A Hipster! More shades… Beau – lil sis of my youngest son’s girlfriend – looking good in the pair she ‘borrowed’ from him! They’re a bit sticky now, though! What A Fright! I met this critter up close when I found him in my top. I've never got out of a T-shirt so fast! I bravely caught him in a tumbler and released him.…

FIVE MONTHS GONE AND PARTYING! ‘I had horrible backache – must have pulled a muscle’ Slipping into a red-and-white striped, size-8 bikini, I smiled at my slinky, tanned reflection. Beach body ready! I snapped a selfie and sent it to my boyfriend Jack Ince, 22. Looking hot! he replied. We’d been together on and off for three years. It was May last year, and I was on a three-week trip to Magaluf, visiting my mates Mel, 22, and Lily, 21, who were working as ‘shot girls’- selling shots to party people. I did a week’s promo work, then I partied hard for a fortnight. Downing Jagerbombs and every other shot, I had a blast! Back home, living with my parents Jacqueline, 53, and Steven, 52, I was out of work,…

1 No spills  Stop sunt an lotions from leaking onto your clothes, by wrapping t hem in bubble wrap before packing them. Angie Laird, Wirral 2 Take it easy  Take regular breaks (every couple of hours) from the sun to reduce the risk of burning. Caitlin Munroe, North London 3 All natural  Don’t wear make-up, deodorant or perfume when you’re sunbathing, as they contain products that could cause rashes. Caroline Piercy, Hassocks 4 Chill out  Store aftersun lotion in the fridge as it’ll keep it nice and cool when you come to put it on after a hot day in the sun. Ian Laird, Birkenhead…

WE’RE SHARING OUR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY BROTHERS… WE WERE ALWAYS CLOSE ‘For our mum, it was no big deal us being gay’ ‘That bus ride meant everything to me. Freedom, rebirth…’ ‘Are you trans?’ I asked. Blunt, but that’s me. My brother Daniel, 20, smiled awkwardly. ‘I think I might be,’ he replied. And then we both laughed. ‘Are you?’ he added. ‘I think so,’ I grinned. It was last summer, and I was back home in Cork. I lived in Dublin, where I worked behind the bar at the Shelbourne Hotel. And, when I had time off, I was out having fun at The George pub - one of Ireland’s oldest gay bars. I loved it. The other thing I loved to do when I wasn’t working was…

Albinism 1 Albinism is caused by a virus. 2 The condition gets worse over time. 3 It can lead to problems with vision. 4 Patients are at more risk of skin cancer. 1 FALSE Albinism is caused by a faulty gene that renders cells unable to produce the pigment melanin, which colours our eyes, hair and skin. In most cases, albinism is inherited. 2 FALSE Though albinism is a lifelong condition, it doesn’t get progressively worse over time, and doesn’t require treatment directly, but some of the associated conditions will. 3 TRUE Many babies born with albinism have severely impaired vision in early life. Though their vision will never develop fully, in most cases it will improve within a few months of birth. 4 TRUE Those suffering with albinism are…

Blueberry Cakes Serves: 12 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 25 min 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4, and lightly grease a 12-hole, nonstick muffin pan. 2 Heat butter in a small pan until butter foams and milk solids turn a golden brown. Immediately remove from heat and pour into a small bowl. 3 In a large bowl, mix together flour, ground almonds and sugar. Add egg whites and almond extract and mix together until smooth. Pour in butter and continue to mix until smooth. Cover mixture and refrigerate for an hour. 4 Divide batter evenly between holes in muffin pan, top each with three blueberries, scatter flaked almonds around edges, then bake for 25 min until golden-brown around edges and a…

John Wayne Gacy Gacy – AKA The Killer Clown – raped and murdered at least 33 men and boys in Illinois. He was killed by lethal injection in May 1994. Last words: ‘Kiss my ass.’ Timothy McVeigh An American terrorist convicted for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people and injured over 600 more. He was executed in June 2001. Last words: ‘I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.’ Peter Manuel Convicted of murdering seven people in Scotland and executed by hanging at Barlinnie prison in 1958. Last words: ‘Turn up the radio and I’ll go quietly.’ Andrei Chikatilo Known as the Butcher of Rostov, this Russian serial killer murdered 52 women and children. He was executed on Valentine’s Day 1994.…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Coral lip lacquer Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in Orange Shot Matte lippies can be really drying, but this actually left my lips feeling hydrated. The colour was bold and highly pigmented, too. Great for a night out. Bourjois Rouge Edition Souffle de Velvet in Orangelique This looks really bright when you first apply it, but once blended and blotted it gives a much softer colour. It really did leave my lips looking like velvet! Collection Deluxe Lip Lacquer in Show Off This sticky formula left my pout looking glossy and with a nice pop of colour. The heart-shaped wand made this really easy to apply, too. Jess’ Beauty Hero Impulse True Love Freesia & Tangerine Body Fragrance, £1.99, Superdrug, is the perfect scent for…

‘The glass shattered as it slammed into my face’ Putting the finishing touches to my make-up, I gave myself the once-over in the mirror. I liked to look good - had my nails done once a week, my eyebrows and lip liner tattooed on. Luckily, I’d friends who were beauty therapists! I was going on a rare night out with my mates in town, while Mum babysat my three gorgeous kids, aged 15, 8 and 7. What with my brood, working as a carer and volunteering with disabled children, I’d hardly any time to let my hair down. So tonight was a real treat. ‘Have a good time,’ Mum said. Back home later, I popped my head into the kids’ rooms and headed to bed. A close family, we loved…

‘My hair was so greasy, ponytails couldn’t hide it!’ All ladies know the horror of a ‘bad hair day’! I used to buy every product under the sun to tame my tresses. Up at 6.30am three times a week to wash, blow-dry and style my long locks with straighteners. Then, in March last year, I read an article online about ditching branded shampoo with amazing results. I’m a hippy at heart, keen to be kind to my body and the environment. So I stocked up on aloe vera, oatmeal, rye flour, baking soda, coconut milk and honey. ‘All for your hair?’ my fiance Graeme Thomas, 28, asked, confused. I’m not going to lie – at first, it was downright disgusting. As my hair ‘detoxed’, it went beyond greasy. Even a…

‘I agreed to take Monkey and keep him on my bed’ Monkey is a soft, brown toy. He has a big smile, and his fur is worn in places. He belongs to my son Rhys, 6, who’s had him since he was 10 days old. Wherever Rhys goes, Monkey goes. And now, Rhys had given Monkey a very special mission. ‘I want him to go with you,’ he said, looking up at me with his big, blue eyes. ‘Won’t you miss him?’ I asked. ‘Yes,’ Rhys nodded. ‘But he should go with you because he’s very good at looking after people.’ It was April this year, and I was going into hospital. I’d told Rhys I was poorly and was going away so doctors could make me better. He wouldn’t…

‘Amazing! You’d expect there to be a small bump. She shouldn’t feel guilty – I’m so glad everything turned out alright for them in the end.’ Lorna Young, 41, Isle of Mull ‘What a marvel the human body is! She’s so lucky to have a healthy baby after her party-girl lifestyle. It proves that, in the end, Nature’s in charge.’ Lauren Balmain, 28, South Shields ‘As a mum, I find it hard to understand how she couldn’t tell. I thought this only happened on TV! It’s great that they’re going to make a go of it as a family.’ Heather Annan, 37, Islington…

Run For It This Karrimor Xlite 2 ladies’ running T-shirt is now just £12.99 (RRP £34.99) at www.karrimor.com. We love the bold colour and slimming side panels. Brush Up It’s amazing the difference good brushes can make to the way your make-up looks! Visit Nanshy.com and use the code PickMeUp20 before 14 July to save 20% on its great collection of vegan and cruelty-free brushes. Wine Time Were you planning on treating yourself and kicking back with a nice glass of white this weekend? Then, luckily, you can enjoy a bottle of Chilean Reserve Sauvignon Blanc for just £5.50 (normally £6.29) from SPAR until 27 July. Bless You! You can save 30% and bag allergy balm HayMax for £4.89 (normally £6.99) by using code PICK30 at www.haymax.biz before 14 July.…

‘A drop in my blood-glucose levels could’ve killed me’ It was 2001. The year everything changed. I was 13, and started suffering fatigue, weight loss, and needing the loo a lot. ‘You have type 1 diabetes,’ the doctor said after tests. It was a shock. But as soon as I started taking insulin, I felt better. Three years later, I joined an athletics club to keep myself fit. And the more I went, the more I loved it. ‘You’re a natural!’ my coaches encouraged. Soon I was competing internationally, winning national titles for Wales. I had to be careful to monitor my diabetes, so I always had a blood-glucose monitor when I was training or competing. In 2008, I made the transition to using an insulin pump, and gave up…

I was enjoying my ballet lessons in May 2013 when I started getting really tired. I was 16, and, though I didn’t think much of it at first, the tiredness just got worse. And it was getting in the way of my GCSE revision. My GP said I had iron-deficiency anaemia but, when I saw no improvement by 19 May - the day before my first exam - I went to the hospital with my mum Sarah, 47, for a blood test. A haematologist found I had a very high white-cell count. So she ran a bone-marrow test. And the results brought us very unexpected news. ‘Amy, you have acute myeloid leukaemia,’ she said. She explained that it was an aggressive cancer of the myeloid cells, and would need to…

’The blood poisoning turned my legs, hands and nose black’ Sore throat, head pounding, my body aching all over. Urgh! I’ve got freshers’ flu, I thought. It was February 2015, I was having the time of my life in my first year at Nottingham Trent University studying a Business Studies degree. I loved the course, enjoyed nights out, house parties... But, recently, friends had been dropping like flies with various bugs. And now I felt rotten, too. Sneaking out of my lecture early, Iwent back to my halls of residence, crashed out in bed. That’s the last thing I remember. Next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed, oxygen mask over my mouth, a tube being pulled from my throat. I was confused, in a fog of…

‘Setting up online meant Mum could play in her own home’ ‘I couldn’t believe I’d won my second jackpot in months!’ You can’t beat a good game of bingo with your friends. That’s what my mum used to say. She loved going to the bingo halls with her mates to have a few games and a good natter. But over the years, her friends had stopped going. Then, one day, I was doing a bit of cleaning for Mum when I had an idea. ‘How about playing online bingo?’ I suggested. It’d mean Mum could play in the comfort of her own home. Like me, Mum wasn’t very good using computers, though. So I asked my daughter Nicole, 25, to show me how to set up an online account. In…

The Secret Of My Success NAME: Stephanie Innes, 29, from Aberdeen. VITAL STATISTICS: When I fell pregnant in 2009, I was a size-12 but I think I enjoyed my pregnancy a little too much and didn’t realise how big I‘d got. Afterwards, struggling with postnatal depression, I began to comfort eat. At 14st 2lb and a dress size-16/18, I found the anxiety so overwhelming that I’d cancel plans with friends or not take my son out. MY MOTIVATION: As well as the incentive of getting fit and healthy for Ross, now 5, and my 15-year-old stepdaughter, I had my wedding planned for July 2015! MY ACTION PLAN: In September 2014, I saw an ad for a new Scottish Slimmers class. From the start, it felt right. I thought I’d get…

‘Slipping into a size-8 for the first time ever was a thrill!’ For my daughter Charlotte’s 11th birthday in September 2014, me and my fiance Jaime Brown, 34, bought her a new smartphone. As I drove home later that day, Charlotte snapped a photo of me, unawares, and showed me it once I’d parked. Spying my double chin and bulging belly, I was repulsed. ‘Delete it, now!’ I ordered. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled, doing so. I felt ashamed. I’d once been a size-12 but, since having Charlotte, Chloe, then 9, and George, 2, I’d grown to a size-18. Falling into lazy habits, scoffing takeaways after the kids were in bed, my 5ft 3in frame wasn’t carrying it well. So, three days later, I signed up to Slimming World. I’d been before…

‘I thought if I ignored the pain, it would go away’ As I watched the two lines appear on the pregnancy test, my heart raced. ‘It’s positive!’ I cried to my husband Amadou, 31. After getting married in 2011, we decided to try for a baby but it wasn’t as easy as we hoped. I’d managed to conceive a few months previously but, sadly, I miscarried at seven weeks. So we decided to wait before sharing our good news this time. Seeing the heartbeat for the first time totally took my breath away. It was so beautiful. ‘Everything looks absolutely normal,’ the sonographer said. She tried to take measurements, but every time she tried, the baby wriggled out of the way. ‘You’re going to have a handful with this one,’…

IT’S BEEN HARD, BUT I’M MOVING ON WITH LIFE... ‘To my horror, more victims came forward’ Singled out, confused, afraid. That’s how I felt every night when Daddy crept into my room, covered my face with a pillow. Then put his hands inside my knickers. He’d spoil me with extra pocket money and junk food to keep me quiet. ‘You’re special,’ he’d whisper. But I wasn’t sure. If he loves me, why does he hurt me? I’d puzzle. It started when I was 7. Dad’s chubby hands roved over my tiny body. Soon his fingers probed, prodding painfully beneath my underwear. He’d make me masturbate him, too. He’d tell me if I was doing something wrong, or going too slow. ‘Remember for next time,’ he’d leer. By the time I…

1 Switch off Turn off roaming, background refreshesand notifications. 2 Change your SIM For trips outside the EU, buy a local SIM card and add a little credit. 3 Get map savvy Using maps is often essential, so save offline versions to get around. 4 No voicemail EU regs mean you can’t be charged if someone leaves a voicemail, but you may be charged to listen to it! Outside Europe some networks charge if a voicemail is left, even if you don’t listen to it! 5 Text me! Get pals to text, as it’s free to receive texts worldwide! 6 Get wi-fi savvy Download Skype, as you just need a free Wi-Fi spot to call others who have…

Sore breasts Q My breasts are so sore. I’ve changed my Pill and tried ibuprofen. Is there anything else I can do? Maggie, Harwich, Essex A Although the evidence is slight, some women find high doses of evening primrose oil helpful. Take 1,000mg three times a day for a month to see if it helps. (But do check with your GP first and avoid it if you’re epileptic.) Ear pain Q My son often complains of ear pain. He had an infection a few weeks ago which affected his ears, but it’s just not settling down. Will it get better? Jay, Carlisle, Cumbria A Ear pain can take quite some time to settle after an upper respiratory infection, so if there’s nothing to see during an ear examination, it should…

Blair showed no remorse, said she’d do it again ‘They could have been frozen years before’ ‘Evidence suggested Blair had abused all her children’ It was 11.30am on 24 March last year. Bailiffs were banging on Mitchelle Blair’s door in Detroit’s Martin Luther King apartments. The 35-year-old, single mum-of-four was being evicted for non-payment of rent. She wasn’t home, so bailiffs went straight in to clear furniture from the rubbish-strewn townhouse. But, opening a deep, white chest freezer, they made a gruesome discovery. The frozen body of a little girl wearing a pink coat. They alerted police, who raced to the property. Police discovered the body of a boy, wrapped in a plastic sheet, hidden under the girl. Officers immediately arrested Mitchelle Blair, who was in hiding with two of…

Tweexy, £14.45, www.onogo.com No more balancing polish. You can now wear it on your hand! The sturdy ring fits all fingers and holds all nail polish bottle sizes – amazing! Master Lock Portable Safe, £31.99, Amazon Keep valuables safe when you’re out and about or on the beach this summer. Lock them inside this clutch-style safe. It can be connected to your bag or any fixed object with the cable, and is big enough to store a phone, wallet, passport and money. Silentnight Supreme Collection Pocket Sprung Dog Bed, from £164, www.mikabou.com If you think your pooch deserves the best, then this dog bed is certainly the fanciest one we’ve ever seen! It has a pocket-spring system, memory foam top and a bolster cushion to ensure…

‘Then I saw a pen which was holding six tiny pups’ I ’d reached an all-time low. It was 2013 and my husband ‘ Alistair, then 52, and I had been trying for a baby for three years. But it just wasn’t happening. Two years before, I’d been treated for endometriosis - a condition where pieces of the womb lining move elsewhere and can lead to problems conceiving. I’d fallen pregnant twice, but miscarried both times. ‘I just want to be a mum,’ I sobbed to Alistair. We both had busy work schedules, so had left starting a family a bit late. A bit too late, I feared. By now all of our friends had babies, and I was happy for them, but it was a painful reminder that we…

SCREEN TEENS Turns out some of our favourite film and telly teenagers were actually fully grown adults when they were cast as high-schoolers! VERMIN GOOD PETS Who knew rats made great pets? 1Rats can learn their names and simple commands, and are easy to train. 2 They love to nuzzle up to you and sit in the crook of your neck. 3They giggle when you tickle them! 3 Little-Known Facts About Places On The Monopoly Board That Will Surprise You! 1 Built on the site of a fever and smallpox hospital, Kings Cross station contains the only Platform 0 of London’s 14 railway termini. 2 One of London’s many buried waterways, the River Fleet, still runs under the cellars of Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub on Fleet Street. 3 In…

Most kids love jumping and climbing trees. But my daughter Jada, now 6, and son Callan, 4, climb anything and everything! Furniture, the doorframes, the banisters... The pair run rings around their mum, my partner Nicola Parker, 26. ‘Just like Daddy!’ I tease. At 16, I got into Parkour, a fast-paced discipline that involves performing acrobatic feats in urban areas, often leaping between buildings. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush! Now, as a qualified Parkour instructor, I teach the skills to kids and adults at Paramount Parkour in Kingston. In February last year, I heard through a fellow trainer that ITV was launching Ninja Warrior UK. Based on a Japanese TV show, it’s a competitive challenge where adults take on an extreme assault course. Appearing in April last year, I fell…

CANCER 22 June–23 July A little setback can be a useful thing. It gives you a quick dose of reality, and stops you from seeing something – or someone – in such an idealistic way. Something similar happens now and, in the long run, you’ll be glad it did. Call: 09058 170 713* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Some things seem a good idea at the time, especially if they’re a long way away. When you get closer, either in time or distance, you wonder what you were thinking. Don’t listen to what a mate tells you – use your common sense instead. Call: 09058 170 714* VIRGO 24 Aug–23 Sept If it’s going to cause a load of arguments with your friends, a bust-up with your partner, total upheaval at…