Table of contents for 29-Feb-2024 in Pick Me Up!

Pulling up to pick up my date, I was greeted by a pretty bouquet of M&S flowers. Back in August 2020, I was finally going on a date with Zach. I knew him through a mutual friend, and he seemed quite full of himself – but I found his cockiness quite attractive and whenever Zach saw me, he’d wink at me. ‘She’s going to be mine one day,’ I found out he had told our mutual friend. I found it really exciting. Because at 19, I’d never had a proper boyfriend. I had my daughter Alice two months prior to meeting Zach, but I’d always been very shy and wasn’t used to this romantic attention. At the time, I was 29st and wearing a size 30 – it made me…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. Keep your floors clean with this easy-to-use spin mop. Including a bucket that is ideal to make your hard floors shine, there is an additional refill, too. With a microfibre mop head and a lock clip mechanism, you can spin dry the mop using either the foot pedal or the handle. It’s such a clever design! For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Shining bright To get rid of limescale build-up on your chrome taps, take a sandwich bag, drop a cotton wool ball inside soaked with vinegar and tie it around each tap. Then, leave overnight to easily remove it! Patricia Cordon, Cheltenham Bubbly brilliant! Shower gel has the same ingredients as…

Pulling up at the local farm shop for our weekly food shop, I made a mental note of what we needed. Milk, bread, veg… Only, as I arrived that day in 2016 with my dad Louie, 79, I spotted the owner walking across the yard with a bucket. What’s he got in there? I thought curiously. Approaching the man, he held the bucket out. Inside was a fluffy chick and another bird with a much longer beak – a duckling. ‘Our eggs got mixed up at the farm,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what to do with the duck!’ He’d meant to sell the eggs, but a chick had hatched. Only, he never expected a duck to crawl out of the other egg, too! ‘He’s so sweet,’ I cooed. ‘You…

Settling down with a cuppa is often the highlight of the day. But did you know that there is actually a science behind brewing the perfect cup of tea? Follow these top tips from cuppa connoisseur Dr Michelle Francl to achieve the perfect brew – there’s much more to it than you might think! ● Steeped: The Chemistry of Tea by Dr Michelle Francl, available to buy from Amazon 1. Pass the salt You can easily reduce the bitter taste of your cuppa with just a tiny pinch of regular table salt. Sodium-ion is a key element of salt, and it interacts with the chemical mechanism that produces the perception of a bitter taste. 2. Size matters! When brewing your tea, don’t opt for a tall and cylindrical cup. This…

Myth busters There are many misconceptions surrounding vision impairment. And if your child has experienced sight loss or has had a recent diagnosis, it can be hard navigating all the new information. Guide Dogs are here to explain the most common misconceptions surrounding vision impairment and sight loss in children. ● Please visit: guidedogs.org.uk 1. The term ‘blind’ means someone can’t see anything at all NO It’s believed around 93% of people who have a vision impairment still have some useful vision. 2. My child will need to go to a special school NO 64% of young people aged five to 16 with a vision impairment go to mainstream schools. Adaptations can be made to your child’s learning environment, including low vision aids and assistive technology. 3. Children with vision…

Lash-tastic Whether you want a subtle boost or to make your eyes really pop, Ardell have the lashes for you. With their Naked range, these comfortable lashes come with an invisiband – meaning they’ll blend seamlessly with your natural lashes while adding volume and length, for a pulled-together look. • Prices from £5.49, available from Boots, Superdrug and Look Fantastic GIFT OF LOVE With Mother's Day just around the corner, treat the fabulous mums in your life with these gorgeous beauty gifts. BEAUTY NEWS INSIDE THE FACTORY COMES TO LUSH! WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON IPLAYER NOW Do you need beauty advice? Write to hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk and we’ll try and help!…

Amanda Macdonald is a psychotherapist, counsellor, and member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Amanda helps adults and children manage and overcome life’s hurdles – including relationship, stress and confidence issues. To find out more about counselling visit: bacp.co.uk or search Amanda Macdonald Therapy The birds and the bees Q My 15-year-old daughter has been in a relationship for a year and has told me she’s had sex with her boyfriend. How do I handle this? Nicole, Portsmouth A Every parent needs to be proactive when approaching the topic of sex. Being clear about consent, sexual health and sexuality will help your child through their teenage years – and this can be done in an age-appropriate way. It may feel awkward, so think beforehand about what you want…

With many of us tightening our belts at the moment, affordable yet delicious meals are a must. That’s why Heinz have created these cheap, easy and hearty meals using their store cupboard staples. Using their soups or Beanz, you can create versatile and fun grub for the whole family. • For more recipe inspiration, please visit: heinztohome.co.uk Cream of Tomato Soup Veggie Spaghetti Bolognese Serves: 4 PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIMES: 30 MINS Cost per serve: £1.99 Calories: 538 YOU WILL NEED: □ 2 tins of Heinz Cream of Tomato soup□ 1 tbsp olive oil□ 1 medium onion, finely diced□ 2 cloves of garlic, minced□ 1 tsp dried oregano□ 1 carrot, finely diced□ 1 red pepper, finely diced□ 1 tbsp tomato purée□ 1 packet (250g) cooked puy lentils□ 30g…

I was excited to find a mini yellow, red and green pepper inside my red one! Isn’t it amazing how they grow? I chopped and added all the colours into my spag Bol – it was delicious! Laura Bolton, Bristol My husband mixed up the bag of cat litter with a similar bag – and filled the tray with cat biscuits instead! Katie Gooding, Tidworth Here is a picture of my two-year-old son Leo enjoying his copy of Pick Me Up! Shez Louise, Dunstable I bet plenty of Valentine’s cards were given this February – but I bet no-one was given any hankies like these romantic ones I’ve collected over the years! Brenda Mathews, West Sussex If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers.…

Standing in the crowd, shoulder-to-shoulder with my mum, I had the time of my life. With a similar taste in music, my mum Helen, 54, and I had a particular shared love of boy bands. Mum was my best friend – we did everything together. I had my dad Scott, 53, too, but Mum and I had been close since I was a little girl. And going to see our beloved boy bands was one of our favourite things to do. And top of our list was The Wanted. And so, when they announced a one-off tour in December 2021 for the following spring, we knew we had to go. Only, there was one problem. I was really under the weather. Despite it being winter, I was having hot flushes…

Flat to the ground Q My seven-year-old daughter is flat-footed – she finds it painful to walk long distances and stand up for long periods of time. Are there any treatments for this? Sheila, Croydon A Flat feet in children is a common condition that often improves as they grow. However, if your daughter is experiencing discomfort, there are some effective ways to manage it. Proper footwear is essential – shoes with adequate arch support and cushioning can offer significant relief. If this doesn’t work, orthotic insoles can provide necessary arch support and alleviate pain. Physiotherapy, with targeted exercises, can strengthen foot muscles and improve gait, too. It’s important to note that flat feet affect an estimated up to 30% of children, too. The condition is usually benign and self-corrects…

Pulling my bra straps over my shoulders, they were undoubtedly tighter. My boobs were practically spilling out of their cups – I was dangerously close to a nip slip. My favourite bra no longer seemed to fit! I guess I’ll have to go bra shopping again, I thought. My boobs had been getting bigger for the past few months. I had no idea why they were suddenly growing but as an OnlyFans creator, some extra breast wasn’t the end of the world. I’d started my account in 2018 after my partner suggested it to me. ‘I think you’d do really well,’ they’d said. And so, for the next three years I built up my platform. Starting off with a lot of lingerie shoots, I gradually built myself up – producing…

Have you ever seen a bevy of otters? Or maybe a raft? You may even know that sea otters like to hold hands as they float along. But did you know that otters are an important part of British wildlife and the ecosystem? They may be cute, but they are also very important… Creeping along the riverbank, stay quiet – a family of otters might be there having a swim. If you’re lucky, you might spot their long, slender bodies, thick tails, brown fur, webbed feet and bright eyes. Adorable, right? Who wouldn’t want to see an otter elegantly gliding through the water or cheekily splashing about with their friends? But spotting an otter in the wild in the UK is a very rare and precious moment. Because not only…

Sipping on my porn star martini, the tropical flavour tingled on my tongue. A few cocktails deep, me and my partner Tom, 34, had hit up a local bar called Town and Gown that evening, on 5 August last year. We rarely went out just the two of us – we usually had our son Brooklyn, now nine. But with my mum Jane, 70, and my dad James*, 74, looking after him, we made the most of it. Dressed in pink, we watched Barbie with Tom’s mum Lydia*, 61, before heading out for dinner. Only, it wasn’t long before the cocktails drummed up a familiar craving. ‘Let’s go clubbing,’ I said. ‘No, I’m ready to go home,’ Tom laughed. But I was determined to have a boogie. ‘Oh, come on.…

Pulling up in the car park, Hernan Leiva, 58, arrived for another shift at the local Target. Working as a janitor in the American superstore at Bailey’s Crossroads in Fairfax County, Virginia, Hernan was known by his friends and family for his hardworking attitude. Born and raised in the rural El Salvador, from a young age, Hernan strived to provide for his family. And he always did so with a smile on his face – after all, another day sweeping floors meant more financial stability for his beloved family, even if it wasn’t the most glamorous job. But Hernan was a family man who always wanted the best for his loving wife Esperanza and his two sons Marlin and Jesse. Hopping out of his car, Hernan prepared for another day…

ARIES ARIES 21 March–20 April You’re blaming the wrong person for what didn’t work out professionally. Events over the next seven days tell you exactly what needs to happen for you to move forward and up. Talks you instigate with professional faces helps you see what really transpired. From this you find who you can succeed with in your career and work gets interesting. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Are you missing a certain person for what they brought to your life or what you brought to theirs? Don’t forget that your sign is one of the most compassionate in the zodiac. Know how far is too far to go for those who are never going to spoil you, but only take from you. Good luck in…