Table of contents for 23-Sep-2021 in Pick Me Up!

Cracking open a bottle of bubbly, I burst into merry song. ‘Watch out!’ my friend Emma howled as the cork flew across the room in November 2017. It was a special occasion as we were celebrating my new job as a support worker. I started on the Monday and so I wanted to have a big night out before my first shift. We were both in high spirits, and as we bundled into the Uber, I couldn’t wait the get on the dance floor. The driver zoomed along as he turned up the radio before we arrived at The Dickens club and got in the queue. Finally, we were inside, and I was ready to let my hair down and have a good boogie. ‘I love this one!’ I smiled…

Q My gums keep bleeding, why is this happening? Jordan, Derby A Bleeding gums can be a symptom of many things including gingivitis, a side effect of taking different medications, changes in dental hygiene routine, or brushing or flossing too vigorously or with too much pressure. The best thing to do is to book to see your dentist so that they can work out the cause of your bleeding gums! Ensure that you are having regular check-ups with your dentist and hygienist. They can check that you are using the right products and catch any potential gum problems early.…

Top tip Layer up midi dresses with a jumper and boots Top tip Don’t be afraid to play with prints and colours Top tip Use belts and string ties to bring in your waistline ACCESSORISE YOUR OUTFIT WITH THE PERFECT HANDBAG…

Rust-Oleum Furniture Paint ranges are now available in 110 stunning colours and in four finishes, allowing you to completely transform furniture and tailor it to your taste. With so many colours to choose from, Rust-Oleum has made finding the perfect shade easy with innovative Colour Tester sachets. You get more than enough paint to help you make a decision! Just 99p each with free delivery, from rustoleumcolours.co.uk. PROJECT TIME… Experiment with textures using Rust-Oleum Matt and Satin Furniture Paint. This technique will make the design pop! WHAT YOU WILL NEED: □ Chalky Finish Furniture Paint □ Satin Furniture Paint □ Foam rollers □ Paint brush □ Pencil □ Paper □ Stencil sheet □ Craft knife □ Cutting mat STEP 1 Rust-Oleum Furniture Paint often requires no sanding, making upcycling furniture…

LISTEN IN! Want to start living more sustainably but don’t know where do start? If you’ve got an Amazon device in your home which has the Alexa function, educate yourself and your kids by downloading the free E.ON installation which will give you a series of tips and tricks on living more sustainably. These include what living sustainably at home means, how to make your home more eco-friendly – including during different times of the year – and how to be more sustainable in the different rooms in your house. You’ll be able to learn everything from how to easily change daily habits to advice about sustainable energy solutions. ∙ To listen, all you need to do is say; ‘Alexa, open E.ON Sustainable Home.’ We’re loving this Make the most…

I’d only just got home from hospital with my baby girl, Erin, but I knew something wasn’t right. I was waking up in tops that were completely soaked with sweat, almost like they’d just been pulled out of the washing machine. It wasn’t normal. I’m not feeling very well,’ I told my health visitor, as I rocked Erin in my arms. ‘I’m sweating too much, it’s running from everywhere.’ ‘It’s just your hormones trying to get back to normal,’ she said. I knew it wasn’t that though. ‘Maybe I have an infection or something?’ I said, desperately. I’d already had enough trouble with Erin’s birth, I didn’t want to risk something going wrong again. I’d complained about groin pains for six months of my pregnancy, and each time doctors told…

Dr Deborah Lee is a GP with Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, who helps her patients with a whole range of problems, including emotional ones. (doctorfox.co.uk) Bad timing QI’ve just found out from a friend that my boyfriend cheated on me a couple of months ago, but we’ve just moved into our own house together. Is it best to just pretend it never happened? Hannah, London A You’ve made a commitment by moving in together, and the trust has been broken. You must feel very shocked and worried about the future. Hard as it is, pretending it didn’t happen is rarely the answer. Start by talking to your partner as calmly and honestly as possible. Find out the details and try and understand what he did and why he did it.…

Sitting at the dinner table with my husband Marek, then 46, and our daughter Ola, then 10, I frowned. ‘Are you alright?’ Marek asked, concerned. ‘My tongue feels strange, it’s probably nothing though,’ I said, and I took another bite of my meal. It just felt like a strained muscle, and I didn’t think too much of it. But over time, the pain only got stronger. At first I’d only noticed it when eating, but if I wiggled my tongue around there was also some discomfort. This is odd, I thought. After around four weeks, back in September 2016, I started looking up my symptoms online, but there didn’t seem to be an answer. Sticking my tongue out, I couldn’t feel anything unusual on it, and I couldn’t find any…

There are so many different types of vitamins it’s hard to know which to take. But that’s something you’ll no longer need to worry about with The Fast 800 vitamins as they are packed full of 23 essential vitamins and minerals. They’re also great for those who are trying to lose weight. Disclaimer: Medical advice provided is for interest only and should never be substituted for seeing a doctor or seeking medical advice. If you have specific medical concerns please seek advice from a qualified medical professional.…

The Pembrokeshire Coast is a designated Dark Sky reserve and is one of the best places in the UK for stargazing. Little Retreat in Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire, has introduced new stargazing tents for a perfect night under the sky. They’ve also shared their top tips for getting the most out of your stargazing. 1. Make sure you turn off all the lights. 2. Download a stargazing app on your smartphone that allows you to map the night sky from where you’re standing like Skyview and Skywalk. 3. Use a telescope and the stargazing guide to look for unique constellations. 4. Remember that stars twinkle and planets don’t. 5. Look out for the International Space Station – NASA has a website dedicated to tracking where its location. 6. Use a telescope to…

Watching the glee on my little girl Niniola’s face as Manchester United scored a goal, I smiled. Niniola, affectionately known as Nini, is a huge football fan. As I watched her smiling, I knew she’d love nothing more than to get out on the pitch with her friends and have a kickabout with them herself. But Nini can’t kick a ball. My four-year-old daughter has cerebral palsy. She is nonverbal and confined to a wheelchair all the time. As she looked at me, then back to the football match on the TV, I knew she was telling me she wanted to play, too. It broke my heart, and nothing would make me happier than granting my little girl her wish. My pregnancy with Nini had gone completely smoothly. But when…

Midi dresses are a great piece to transition from summer to autumn, simply by swapping sandals for trainers or boots – but scuffed, grubby, grey trainers can ruin the look. Keep your trainers sparkling with these white trainer care tips from YouTuber and influencer Beca Alice, and Sneaker Shield… 1 Use Sneaker Wipes! The simplest solution when it comes to keeping your trainers clean is to use specialist wipes, like the double-sided Sneaker Wipes by Sneaker Shield. These can be used for general cleaning, and have a textured side for more stubborn stains. 2 Avoid muddy puddles The weather might be starting to turn, but ideally, keep away from the dirt if you can! You can also use pre-emptive, protective measures such as Sneaker Spray by Sneaker Shield, to keep…

Something dark is brewing as the Dark Arts come to the Harry Potter Studios on 24 September. This new experience will focus on the symbol of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters as the Dark Mark is projected throughout the studio. From the imposing trees of the Forbidden Forest or Hogwarts Castle, visitors can collect a Studio Tour passport on arrival and go on the hunt for the infamous Dark Mark. Brave guests are invited to join the fight and learn the moves behind some of the greatest battle scenes from the movies. Stun a Death Eater, cast a Patronus and defend yourself against an Unforgivable Curse. Watch your step and never let your guard down at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter this autumn.…

Turning around to find my daughter, I noticed she was crouched down on the side of the road. ‘Lacey, what are you doing?’ I shouted. ‘Get on the pavement!’ It was the 8 August when I was on a walk in the local area with my sister-in-law and her kids as well as my children, Lacey, 13, Vinnie, nine, and Betsy-blu, six. As Lacey slowly made her way to me, I could see that she was cupping something in her delicate hands. ‘There was a bee on the road,’ she told me, pushing her hands towards her face. Stumbling backwards, I didn’t want to get stung. Lacey is always rescuing animals – she’s brought home and cared for poorly birds, squirrels, all sorts. She wants to be a vet when…

Brace yourself Q My son is on a waiting list for braces and it’s roughly two years long, which will make him over 14. Is that too long to wait? Lucy, Wiltshire A It’s never too late to have braces! It’s very understandable that you’re keen for your son to have them sooner rather than later, but in terms of effectiveness, braces will always be a great route to a straighter smile, so don’t worry too much! A positive about waiting a little longer is that the older the patient is, the more likely they are to keep caring for their newly straightened teeth! So they’ll be better in the long-term, too. Remember, encouraging your son to continue wearing his retainer is so important – many people get cross with…

Care at hand While the world is still fighting to beat cancer, it’s important that the right support for those with cancer in their lives is readily available at the tips of their fingers. Perci Health is the world’s first online platform that gives people access to support from multidisciplinary cancer teams. Their focus is making affordable, high quality cancer care more accessible to people in making the best decisions about their long-term health and wellbeing. They also strongly believe that no treatable side effect should be left untreated. Perci professionals offer to those living with cancer and their families, management of chronic fatigue, relationship counselling, advice on helping communicate with children, support in safely returning to work, genetic counselling, management of sexual consequences or menopausal effects, dietary advice and…

It’s time to bring out your inner chef and get cooking with one of Britain’s most trusted and renowned kitchenware brands – Judge Whether you are a novice or a consummate pro, reliable equipment makes a huge difference to the cooking experience – from the ease of preparation, through to the finished results and also ensuring you can use your kit for years to come. With a portfolio of more than a thousand kitchen accessories (and counting), Judge covers everyday kitchenware tasks of cooking, baking, food prep, eating & drinking as well as small electricals. Judge helps you to achieve amazing results in the kitchen. Start at the beginning with a great selection of Judge weighing and measuring tools, then move on to our chopping & mixing tools such as traditional…

For the first time in its 108-year history, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show is being held in the autumn from 21 to 26 September, rather than May. We asked some of the plant experts at Squire’s Garden Centres to give us their top five plants that they would use if they had a show… THERESA SCATTERGOOD – PLANT MANAGER AT SQUIRE’S WASHINGTON If I was designing for Chelsea this year it would have to represent how extremely important the garden has become as a life affirming haven. At the centre of the garden there would be a large bench, which has become a symbol of one of the few places people could meet loved ones during the difficult restrictions. Then a riot of plants - more or less the colours…

Expert tip Thinking of going blonde but haven’t got a clue where to start? Founder of The Hair Boss, Lisa Shepherd, is here to help you choose the shade that suits you best. She says; says; ‘My top tip to help decide what blonde will suit you, will be going by your skin tone and eye colour. For example, if you are quite fair in skin tone with blue eyes, I would recommend a more ashy, platinum or silver tone. If you are warmer in skin tone with brown or green eyes, I would recommend beige, honey or dirty blonde tones. ‘The Hair Boss Corrector Drops for Blonde Hair (£9, ASOS), are a great option to help banish yellow tones as you can adjust the pigmentation by adding in more…

Cross it! Solve the puzzle to find a word. Fit the words back in the grid and the letters in the highlighted squares spell out the answer. We’ve put in one word to help. Answer on page 47. 3 letters Aid Ash Ate Rod Rug 4 letters East Envy Tuna West Wrap 5 letters North Nudge Snore South 6 letters Abacus Ambush Baboon Beauty Behave Bishop Nausea 7 letters Canteen Dustbin Sticker 8 letters Airtight Apparent Bacteria Broccoli Cross it! pg 45 Shindig Sudoku! To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Solve the puzzle, then read down the numbers in the highlighted squares for the answer. Answer on page 47. Sudoku! pg 45 8,5,9…

Baileys Apple Pie, £16, Morrisons A delicious blend of apple pie with the creaminess of Baileys Original Irish cream is the perfect drink as we prepare ourselves for getting cosy for autumn. It’s perfect to add to a cup of hot chocolate or drizzled over a scoop of ice cream! There’s no doubt it’s going to be the apple of your pie. Big Fry Burger, £3.25, Iceland It’s thick, meaty, and sizzles when you put it on the barbie. This 112g patty contains a whopping 20g of protein, tastes and looks like a ground beef burger, but it’s 100% vegan! Medium Oak beer, £4, northernmonkshop.com These ‘no-nonsense’ craft beers are designed to do exactly what they say on the tin. The brandnew Medium Oak is a best bitter which has…