Table of contents for September 2015 in Pick Me Up!

What A Fun Journey! When the kids are on summer hols, Tube journeys to work are so different. It livens up the commute to the officeÉ But not long now till theyÕre back to school. IÕll miss Õem! What A Rip-off! Ripped jeans are back! Not random holes, but two neat knee cuts. Why pay for these? Take the scissors to some unloved denims and save yourself a small fortune! What A Cook-off! I’m hooked on The Great British Bake Off ! Also loved ITV’s BBQ Champ . You can’t turn on TV lately without seeing someone stressing over a hot stove! 17 That’s how many magical smells we love! Aromas can evoke happy memories: bacon, newly mown lawns, fresh-baked bread and more! For…

They were the first thing anyone noticed about me. And who could blame them? My 38JJ boobs entered a room at least five minutes before the rest of me did! But I was sick of them. While many ladies dream of big boobs, I knew the reality. Back pain and badly fitting bras, for starters. A big girl all my life, I’d often been teased for my voluptuous assets. Standing 5ft 3in tall, weighing 19st, I struggled to carry my hefty bust. I’d even weighed my boobs once, was shocked to discover they were 2st 4lb! ‘No wonder I’m uncomfortable!’ I told my wife, Marie, 37. I decided my big bangers were too much to handle. So I researched breast-reduction surgery online and booked a consultation for August last year.…

Karen, 32 Throwing her school bag on the floor, my daughter, Zoe, 11, headed straight to the computer. ‘Good day at school, love?’ I called out. ‘Fine,’ she replied, already distracted. I knew she’d be glued to her computer for the rest of the night. She’d sit on it for ages, doing homework and chatting to her mates on Facebook. She was getting older and I wanted to give her a bit of independence. Not too much, though... I still kept an eye on what she got up to. Her Facebook account was linked to my e-mail, so I could keep a check on it. Then, one afternoon last December, someone called Harry added Zoe on Facebook. Checking his profile, I frowned when I saw there was no picture. Instead,…

1 Women only get PND in the first days after having a baby. 2 The cause of postnatal depression is unknown. 3 Some women with PND think about harming their child. 4 Postnatal depression is not common. 1 FALSE Some women may develop PND within the first six weeks, but sometimes it isn’t apparent for six months. It causes persistent low mood and exhaustion. 2 TRUE It’s unclear what causes PND, but there may be a combination of factors. These can include a difficult delivery, relationship or money worries and physical health problems after the birth. 3 TRUE These thoughts affect some mothers, and are known as obsessional ruminations. Though frightening, they’re rarely acted upon. If you experience this, speak to your GP. 4 FALSE It affects around one in…

The sound of weeping echoed through the Massachusetts courtroom. It was March 2001 and nurse Kristen Gilbert had just been spared the death penalty for murdering patients in her care. It was her parents sobbing. Though their daughter was sentenced to life instead, their two grandsons would now grow up without a mother. It was a sentence befitting the so-called ‘Angel of Death’, yet her parents were baffled. What’d turned this attractive, young nurse from a respectable mother into a serial killer? Born in November 1967, Kristen was the eldest of two daughters, and had a normal childhood. In the early 80s, they moved to Groton, in New England. A good girl, Kristen babysat her neighbours’ kids, was a smart student. But boyfriends later said she was manipulative, tampering with…

Our daughter, Lauren, 10, loved everyone and everything. Especially if it was pink and sparkly! But we were an outdoorsy family, too. My husband, Russell, 32, and I often took Lauren and her little brother, Harry, 8, on camping trips and family days out. On Sunday 28 June this year, it was the first weekend of the school holidays. I had to be at my loading bay operative job. ‘I’m going to take the kids fishing to Loch Lomond,’ Russell said. Back home that evening, Russell, Lauren and Harry told me about their day. ‘We caught a few fish,’ Harry said, happily. ‘It rained so hard I had to dive under some bushes for cover,’ Lauren said. Sounded like a great start to the holidays! Only, the following morning, Lauren…

Things change in the blink of an eye. That’s what happened when I started losing my sight in 2010. I’d suffered two mini strokes, which had caused me to lose my peripheral vision, suffer memory loss and struggle with balance. I could see straight forward, but anything up, down or to the side was black. Doctors didn’t know what’d caused the strokes, and they’d been so small I hadn’t even noticed them. If it hadn’t been for my fuzzy vision, I’d never have known about them. ‘It’s unlikely you’ll regain your peripheral vision,’ docs said. They couldn’t rule out me going completely blind, either. Devastating. ‘You’ll get through this,’ my hubby, Andy, 37, reassured me. But I struggled to adjust. If my son, Louis, then 6, came over for a…

ASK JESS Q I’m sick of my mascara always going clumpy on my lashes! What would you recommend? Isabel Brice, 29, Hertford A Try Essence Plump No Clump! Volume Mascara, £2.79, Wilko, which uses a large brush to boost lashes with no lumps. READER’S TIP Apply a thin layer of Vaseline to your eyelids to give them a lovely dewy glow. Nadia Watts, 32, Rothbury Pick Me Up! FOR LESS 10% off all make-up brushes for Superdrug Health & Beauty Card members, until 3/9/15 Want the perfect... HAIR PRIMER? Try one of these… Boost: Pro:Voke Touch of Silver Pre-Toning Primer A moisturising treatment for blonde or white hair. Use before a brightening shampoo. Protect: Pantene Expert Collection Paltinia Hair Strengthening Primer A daily treatment that shields new hair as it…

Our Willie, a 19-month-old English toy terrier, is so hound-some! It was winter here in Australia when we got him, and our tiny pup was chilled on his morning walks. Researching dog coats online, all I could find were pink, fluffy numbers or dull black. My fella, Matt, 42, and I are rock-music fans, so we wanted a coat that’d show off our pooch’s personality. ‘I’ll make him a denim battle jacket!’ I said. Selling vintage clothing as a hobby for years, I’m handy with the sewing machine. So I measured Willie, bought some denim and set to work. Two weeks on, I slipped the finished coat on our pup. He looked the biz in the jacket sewn with band patches that Matt’d been collecting for his own jacket, including…

VIRGO 24 Aug–23 Sept Try to remember that there are always two sides to every story, and certain people are acting more out of jealousy than for the sake of your wellbeing. A new attraction makes you question all you’ve got. Will it make you act, though? Call: 09058 170 715* LIBRA 24 Sept–23 Oct Try not to read between the lines this week, as Mercury is playing some pretty nasty games and you could end up believing fact which is fiction. A rift in the family can be healed if you act as the middle man or woman this weekend. Call: 09058 170 716* SCORPIO 24 Oct–22 Nov Confidence will be yours this week, so you’ll be able to right any wrongs from last week. You’ll also get a…

Eyeing up my gorgeous hubby, most women tell me how lucky I am... But I’ve known that since I met Carmelo Masi, then 20, in 1989, in a pub where my former co-worker introduced us. With long, flowing, dark locks and chocolate-brown eyes, I fell instantly in love. His ‘rocker’ look made me swoon, and I learned Melo was a part-time singer and guitarist, while working by day at a pharmaceutical company. ‘My band’s called Confuzin Jack,’ he explained. That night, a real gent, he walked me home and, soon after, we were an item. Back then, Johnny Depp wasn’t famous. Not until Edward Scissorhands was released in the UK in July 1991. ‘Melo really looks like him!’ my friend, Caroline, exclaimed. It’d never occurred to me. Besides, I’d other…

Everyone stared as I limped through town, and I knew what they were thinking Fat. Lazy. But that just wasn’t true. Since 2007, I’d had a problem with my lymph nodes, called lymphoedema. Fluid accumulated in my arms and legs, making them big. I couldn’t exercise, so I’d ballooned to a size-26. And it was making me miserable. Then in January this year, I had another blow. A consultant at St George’s Hospital, London, diagnosed me with lipoedema, too. ‘It’s likely you’ve had it all your life,’ he told me. The condition causes fat cells to build up in the buttocks, legs and arms. My legs were so swollen, they were agony. I had to wear a compression garment stretching over my legs up to my breastbone. It helped prevent…

June 2014, and my hay fever was worse than ever. I’d always had it. But, this time, my left eye was so itchy, it started to droop when I rubbed it. Then there were the headaches, the pain all over my body - I ended up taking time off my teaching-assistant job. ‘I can’t go on like this,’ I said to my boyfriend, Arwel, 26, After four visits to my GP, still stronger hay fever medication wasn’t working. ‘This can’t be hay fever,’ the doctor said, referring me to the hospital’s eye clinic, when he saw my eye. I saw every doctor available, underwent endless CT and MRI scans. Still no answers. Even daylight was painful for my hypersensitive eyes, and I was getting severe, sharp pains in the back…

Jumping out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a warm dressing gown. I’d had a long day at work, was looking forward to a cuppa and an early night. But before I settled down, I decided to have a quick game of Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d been playing it since 2009. I loved that I could play in the comfort of my own home. Plus, it was great having a natter with other bingo players in the chat rooms. The variety of games made it fun, too. I’d won six jackpots so far. The first was in October 2013 when I won an amazing £2,688. My second win of £2,122 came just two months later . And in February last year, I pocketed an incredible £9,726 jackpot! Since…

Great grub and top foodie treats from our Christine Pineapple Upside  Down Cake Serves: 4 Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 40 min 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4, and lightly grease a round 23cm shallow cake tin. 2 Spread syrup over base of tin. Arrange one pineapple ring in centre of tin, then cut remaining rings in half and place around edges. Put glace cherries in centre of rings. 3 Sift flour and salt into a bowl, add sugar, Trex, eggs and vanilla extract. Beat together until smooth. 4 Spoon mixture into tin, and bake 35-40 min until golden and firm to touch. 5 Cool cake in tin for 10 min, then run a knife around edge to…

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It was 8 years ago when I first realised there was something wrong with my daughter, Emily. She was 9, and had come home from school saying she had neck pain and felt her joints locking when she stood up. ‘It’s so painful,’ she groaned. Then it progressed to her shoulders, which kept dislocating. In September 2009, after tests including X-rays, she was diagnosed with Ehler-Danlos syndrome. ‘It’s a condition where the body can’t make enough collagen,’ the doctor at Manchester Children’s Hospital told us. Heartbreaking Collagen is a protein in connective tissue that holds bones and joints together. Without enough of it, her joints would keep dislocating and cause her pain. Emily was severely affected. Sometimes several of her joints would dislocate all at once, and she’d collapse to…

100-Calorie Gallery Pick Me Up! FOR LESS Have You Tried?  What is it? Now you can bet money on yourself to lose weight! If you reach your 30-day goal, you win your money back. But miss it and it’ll be donated to charity. Is it for me? To help you along, there’s an online log, nutritional advice, exercises and motivational tools. Find out more: www.betweight.com Food Swaps Flattering Fashion Magisculpt trousers can take up to 2in off your waist! They’re available in black, charcoal and navy, four leg lengths and sizes 12-32. THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS NAME: Rebecca Exton-Russell, 37, from Derby. VITAL STATISTICS: At 14st and a size-18, I used to work as a plus-size model but, despite my success, I’d battled with my weight for…

My daughter, Lilly-May, was thrilled with her big helium birthday balloon when she turned 8 this June . And, four days on, it was still bobbing over the sofa. ‘Let’s watch it fly away,’ I suggested. My other kids, Shannan, 16, Brendon, 9, and Evie-Leigh, 5, agreed. ‘And I’ll attach a note, so whoever finds it can tell us,’ Lilly-May declared. Excited, she wrote her name, age and town, asking whoever found it to share their find on Facebook. Then the wind whisked the balloon into the clouds, and - assuming it’d land across town and be binned - I forgot about it. Three weeks on, a pal on Facebook sent me a link to the Lancashire Telegraph. A man in Germany had found Lilly-May’s balloon! Kind Eberhard Behr, 66,…

With the summer holidays coming to an end, you’ll want to make the most of any warm, dry days by getting out and about with the kids. If your little ones are running around and playing games or if it’s hot, they will sweat more so will need to drink more water to replace what they’re losing. Staying hydrated is essential for all of us, but mums and dads need to keep an eye on what our children are drinking throughout the day to make sure they’re keeping their little bodies hydrated and working well. Help your kids to adopt healthy habits from an early age by encouraging them to drink water at home, at school, and at any other moment when you’re not with them, so that they’re getting…

Met the man of my dreams A catastrophic heart attack He woke up to marry me! Snuggling up to my fiance, Pete, 42, I couldn’t wait to be his wife. It was April 2014, and we were just four months away from our big day. It was hard to tell which of us was more excited! Only, tonight, Pete didn’t seem himself. ‘I don’t feel well,’ he said at around 10pm. He’d a bit of a fever, felt sick. ‘Why don’t you go and lie down?’ I said. ‘I’ll come and check on you later.’ I told him I’d book him a doctor’s appointment the following day. Pete shuffled upstairs, devoid of his usual energy... It was his energy that’d first attracted me to him back in mid-2009. Well, that...and…

Buy In Bulk When meat is on t wo-forone sale, c ook one pack and freeze the other. Judy Iles, Longwell Green Beauty Bargain Instead of make-up remover pads, buy cotton wool from the chemist’s baby section – it’s cheaper. Sarah Goss, Berkhamsted Clean Jewellery Before wearing earrings from charit y shops, wipe the hooks with antiseptic cr eam. Heather Boyd, Eastbourne Little Helpers Encourage kids to help with shopping by getting them to draw the it ems needed. J Giblin, Penarth…

Breast pain Q I often get pain in my left breast and I’m worried it could be cancer. Should I see my GP? Kerrie, Feltham A Breast pain that comes and goes with your cycle is usually hormone related and should respond to antiinflammatories, like ibuprofen. If the pain persists for six weeks despite pain relief, see your GP. Forgetful mum Q In recent months, my sharp-minded mum, 91, has got very forgetful. She won’t discuss it, but the family are all very worried. Maggie, Carshalton Beeches A It’s distressing to know that your brain may be failing, so this needs to be addressed sensitively and consistently by the whole family, to encourage your mum to talk about it and any worries she may have. In the meantime, ensure she’s…

QI’m nearly 20 and I still only have 'bum fluff’ on my face, while my friends all have hefty five o’clock shadows. Is this normal? Liam, Stoke-on-Trent A If your other development - for example your genitals and body hair - is normal, then your lack of facial hair ’s nothing to worry about. It’s also not uncommon for men not to need to shave well into their 20s. 41% …that’s how many of us say we fail when trying to diet before going on holiday, claims holiday company www. sunshine.co.uk…

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1 Co-Op Truly Irresistible Lamb Moussaka, 400g Quite sloppy, but a great flavour! With lots of layers – potato, meat, aubergine – and cheese sauce, the fresh, herb taste was fab. 2 Morrisons Signature British Lamb Moussaka, 400g Really big slices of aubergine, and plenty of perfectly cooked mince. But the best bit was the thick, creamy cheese topping! 3 Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Lamb Moussaka, 400g Firm and meaty, with a great flavour – the Greek-cheese sauce goes slightly crisp and toasty on top…delish!…

‘Nowadays kids’ parties are all posh nosh, venues to impress, bouncy castles, entertainers, gift lists and a birthday cake to rival the parents’ wedding cake! Whatever happened to a traditional classmates’ party with banners, balloons and a birthday badge?’ Gemma Davies, Tuffley ‘The main difference I was surprised at is how lenient they are with uniforms now. My son, 7, can wear white or red polo shirts or formal shirt and smart black or grey trousers or jogging bottoms with a red or grey jumper. So many choices! When I was his age I had to wear a white blouse, navy dress and a little tie.’ Stephanie Ng, Musselburgh ‘My daughter’s pre-school gave me a list of lunchbox guidelines. She sneaked in a chocolate biscuit, which was sent home with…

Travel-sized jar of Marmite, £1, Poundland We all miss our home comforts on hols – so the nice people at Marmite have now created a teeny 70g jar that you can carry in your handbag and even take on an aeroplane! Verdict: BONKERS! We still might get one, though! Erasable Memo Pad, £8.95, www.prezzybox.com Make sticky notes a thing of the past thanks to this Etch-A-Sketch-style memo pad! It’s great to keep by the phone to jot things down, and even lets you transfer your notes onto a USB. Verdict: GENIUS! You’ll never have to worry about running out of notes again! No Sew Buttons, £11.95, www.luckies.co.uk There’s nothing worse than losing a button when you’re out. But you can easily replace it with this handy…

I’ve always loved two things - shopping online and bagging a bargain! So when my brother, David, told me about Quidco in March 2009, I was fascinated by how it would work. He said it was a website where you could make all your usual purchases at the normal high-street and online stores but, each time, you’d get money back, paid into your bank account. ‘You’d be really amazed by how quickly the cashback adds up,’ he explained. He was right! After joining Quidco, I hit the Next website and snapped up some gorgeous clothes, plus I got cashback on everything I bought. Since then, I’ve made most of my purchases using Quidco. So, even when I’m doing something dull like renewing my car insurance, I get a buzz when…

Back in September 2006, my hubby, Richard, 34, and I were enjoying a round of crazy golf while visiting my brother-in-law,Christopher, 29, in Portsmouth. Richard won a free game on the Treasure Island course. Intrigued by the game, later he did some research and saw there was a league –The British Minigolf Association. There were 700 courses in the UK. So every weekend, we’d visit a course. Our friends and family were tickled by our new hobby. Soon we were winning a lot of our games, so we joined the Minigolf Association, which hosts eight annual tournaments in male and female categories. In June 2011, we flew to Sweden, where I became a female record breaker at the Nations Cup International Minigolf. Richard’s had his share of wins, too –…

DAY 1 - MINI OBSTACLE COURSE In a garden or park, lay out some items for your child to crawl through, climb over, or wriggle around, such as a large open cardboard box or a pile of picnic blankets. More than one child? Make it a race! DAY 2 - BALL FUN Using various sizes of balls, set your kid a few challenges. How many times can they throw the ball to you without dropping it? Can they hit the ball against a wall and catch it? Set a timer to make it even trickier for them! DAY 3 - CAPTURE THE FLAG Small groups of children form two teams, each with a flag. Both teams have a few minutes to hide their flag. After that they must try to…

Something Sparkly Bag a bottle of the delicious Gallo Family Vineyards Spritz in either Raspberry & Lime or Pineapple & Passionfruit flavours for just £3.99 (normally £5.99 each) at Tesco until 15 September. Family Fun Spend £10 in store at Ryman or at www.ryman.co.uk to receive a Kids Go Free Pass to Legoland Windsor before 14 September. Pass valid until 2 November 2015. It’s a fun family day out! Fit And Fabulous Snap up some gorgeous sportswear for less with the new collection from George at Asda. Prices start from just £6 for sports bras and go up to £12 for a pair of trainers. Watching Your Weight? Lose lbs and save £s with two for £3 on WeightWatchers meals (normally £2.59 each) at Asda until 6 September. Play Ball…

Watching an advert on TV, me and my hubby, Simon, 48, couldn’t stop laughing. A cat and budgie were singing a duet of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s, You’re All I Need To Get By. Feathers and fur are notorious for being sworn enemies. But our cat, Gemima, and budgie, Frankie, live in purrfect harmony. ‘They’re just like the pair in the advert,’ Simon chuckled. I got Frankie in February 2013. I already had Gemima, then 8, and another cat, Tiger, 5. But I’d always wanted a budgie to coo over. When we brought him home from the pet shop, he cowered in the corner of his cage. ‘Come on little fella,’ I chirped. But Frankie was too timid. I was worried Gemima and Tiger might think he was lunch.…