Innehållsförteckning för 18-Jul-2019 från Pick Me Up!

Sitting in the kitchen with my son Tom, I just received an email regarding The Book People’s competition. ‘What do you think about this?’ I asked Tom. ‘Can I?’ he asked, his eyes widening with excitement. The competition was centered around imagination, and the children had to write their own story on the subject. The following week, during the holidays, Tom started brain-storming ideas. He decided that he’d write about two friends who walked to school everyday, finding new things to talk about. Each day, he would write a page of the book. By the end of the week, his book, The Incredible Journey, was complete. He was thrilled. Me and his dad Rob, 36, were so proud, and we submitted it for him. We knew that thousands of children…

Shrieks of laughter echoed through the warm playground as children bounded out of the classroom, excited to start their weekend. ‘See you on Monday!’ I smiled, as a group of young girls gathered around me to give me a hug. Their innocent faces really lit up my day, and I adored being their teacher. It was August 2013, and my friend Kirstie Trup and I were on the trip of a lifetime in Zanzibar. Both 18, we’d needed a break from busy London, and had signed up as volunteer teachers in the quiet city of Stone Town. We’d wanted a new experience before heading off to university, and this was the ideal getaway. ‘Be safe over there,’ my mum Nicky, now 52, said, giving me a hug at the airport.…

New diagnosis Q I have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and I’m worried. What should I do to adjust to the condition? Laura, Nottingham A Type 2 diabetes means that you have a higher level of sugar in your blood than you should. Your body has difficulty lowering it back to normal range. The most important thing you can do is look carefully at your diet and try to make some changes. To start with, focus on reducing fats and sugary foods. If you can also increase your activity, this will help to reduce your weight, lower your blood sugar and also bring other benefits like lowering blood pressure and lifting your mood. Some medications can help with lowering blood sugar. Not all people with Type 2 diabetes…

Feeling the pressure Anew survey has discovered that 50% of British women feel more stressed now compared to ten years ago. The study by ThinkWell-LiveWell found that stress levels are on the rise in the UK, with the biggest increase being in women. A shocking 77% of women between 25 and 44 say they feel stressed, compared to just 46% ten years ago. Finance tops the list for the leading cause of stress, with family life coming in second for women. And it’s not just family causing stress, with nearly a third admitting self confidence has a significant impact on their daily lives. 1412 That’s the number of calories Brits are consuming every day in unhealthy snacks. In a week, the average person will eat three bags of crisps, more…

Jumping out of bed, I grabbed the pregnancy test from my bedside table and ran quickly into to the bathroom. ‘Today’s the day,’ I smiled at my partner, Ben, 27. After nearly three years of trying, I was undergoing IVF and finally, the two weeks had passed, and I could take a pregnancy test. As we stared at the stick, within seconds those magical two lines appeared. ‘We’re going to be parents,’ I cried to Ben. I first met Ben back in college when we were 17, and we’d been together ever since. It hadn’t been an easy journey. Three years into our relationship, at just the age of 40, Ben’s mum, Janet, passed away from cancer. We soon became the full-time guardians of his younger siblings, Dylan, now 16,…

The sun beamed in the window as I chatted away in the kitchen to my mum, Angela, 49. ‘Do you want some salad?’ I shouted to my partner Ryan, 30, in the living room. It was July last year and we’d stopped running errands to grab some lunch. But then my brother Shane, 30, called my phone saying he had a flat tyre. ‘Can you meet me around the corner?’ he said. ‘Sure, just give me a minute,’ I replied to him. As I jumped in the car with Ryan, I started to feel flushed. ‘I feel funny,’ I turned and said to Ryan, feeling confused. ‘What do you mean?’ he asked me, worringly. My head throbbed and I started to get hot and sweaty. ‘I don’t know what’s going…

Say ‘I dough’: When it comes to weddings, food is one of the biggest expenses. You’ve got the cake, favours, canapés and the evening meal. But this doesn’t have to be the case. The team at Panasonic Kitchen are firm believers that by investing in a quality appliance, such as the Panasonic Croustina bread maker (£169, John Lewis and Partners), soon-to-be newlyweds can easily create home-made food for their wedding, giving a personal touch to their big day. Budget hen dos: According to a study by Hotels.com, over £1 billion is spent on hen parties a year, with the average cost of £507 per hen. But you don’t have to schlep to a faraway city for a memorable hen weekend – stay local and use some of the money you’ve…

Honey mustard chow mein Serves: 4 NADIYA SAYS: Chow Mein is the easiest thing to order, but even easier to make. 10 chicken thighs, thinly sliced 4 tablespoons runny honey 4 tablespoons wholegrain mustard 4 cloves of garlic, minced A 2.5cm piece of ginger, peeled and grated 4 tablespoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon salt 3 tbsp sriracha sauce Oil, for frying 2 medium onions, thinly sliced 450g stir-fry vegetables 275g ready-made noodles a large handful of fresh coriander 50g salted peanuts, roughly chopped • wedges of lime 1 Put the chicken thighs into a large bowl with the honey, mustard, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, salt and sriracha, and leave to marinate. 2 Place a large non-stick frying pan or wok on the hob on a high heat. Add the oil…

Galaxy white chocolate chunk cookies, £1.99, ASDA Perfect with a cuppa, these white chocolate chunk cookies are new from Galaxy and make for the ultimate indulgent treat. Young’s Gastro tempura battered fish fillets, £4, Tesco Made with wild caught Alaska pollock and coated in a light and crispy tempura batter, these new fillets are perfect for a Friday night treat or a great way to recreate a restaurant experience at home. Mac & cheese chicken Kiev, £1.59, Aldi Aldi have combined two of the best comfort foods to create a new classic, made with 100% British chicken, tasty mac and cheese and coated in crunchy golden breadcrumbs. And they’re only £1.59 for a pack of two! Chilli con carne beef meatballs, £1.99, Aldi Made with British beef and blended with…

DON’T FORGET! With International Prosecco Day right around the corner, it’s time to celebrate the nation’s favourite beverage. On 13 August, pop open your favourite bottle of fizz and celebrate its heritage… or just it’s deliciousness. Set up in 2016 by none other than Riondo Prosecco themselves, it’s the perfect excuse to get the girls together for a good old-fashioned Prosecco party. Originally from Veneto, Prosecco is made from the Glera grape and only gained its signature bubbles in the 16th century thanks to Antonio Carpené. That’s right, Prosecco used to be flat! With all this in mind, it’s no surprise that us Brits consumed a third of the world’s supply last year! We well and truly love Prosecco! This week’s good cause In 2017, teen activist Amika George started…

Over the next few years, I wore my compression mask and body suit less and less, and my scars eventually healed over. But they were still scars. And they were big and ugly, completely changing my face. I really struggled to accept my new appearance. With my parents’ support, I started going out more, but people would still stare at me and I just felt so ugly all the time. It wasn’t a horrific nightmare - it was my life I’d also suffered with PTSD and extreme anxiety, often having horrific nightmares about the attack in Tanzania. I saw a counseller and had to take antidepressants. In the past six years, I’ve had over 70 surgeries on my face, neck, back, arms and legs. I also had reconstructive surgery on…

Out of reach Dad passed away a year ago and I’m so worried about Mum. She’s depressed, drinking, and even skipping work. We live far apart so I’m not able to be there much. I’m worried she’s on a downward spiral. Janine, Maidstone Helping anyone who is grieving is hard, but especially a parent. It must be even harder to extend that helping hand when you live far apart, and I can hear that you are truly concerned for her. Is it possible to take time off work to spend a short, concentrated time with your mum? Feeling depressed is a very common ‘symptom’ of grief, however, if your mum is drinking and skipping work, those are signs that need attention. Your mum might find it hard at first, but…

1 Try feeding in different positions as pain is often triggered by your baby not latching on correctly. 2 Ask your midwife or health visitor to check for tongue tie. Most cases are picked up on while still in hospital, but some can be harder to detect. 3 Avoid nipple shields if breastfeeding is painful. They restrict the amount of milk the baby gets and leave the breasts more engorged and sore. 4 If mastitis occurs, it’s an inflammation, and is usually caused by a blockage of milk flow. It’s essential to continue breastfeeding and seek advice from your health professional. 5 For nipple cracks and soreness, it’s useful to stock a lanolin ointment, or even better, a Rite Aid Hydrogel Breast Disc ( www.HealthCare4All. co.uk ) which is a…

Psoriasis 1 Psoriasis is contagious. ☐ True ☐ False 2 Warm weather helps to improve psoriasis. ☐ True ☐ False 3 Stress can trigger a flare up of symptoms. ☐ True ☐ False 4 Psoriasis can affect your nails as well as your skin. ☐ True ☐ False 5 The condition only happenswhen you are young. ☐ True ☐ False 1 FALSE It is not contagious and is caused by having an increased production of skin cells. 2 TRUE The cold can make symptoms worse and warmer weather and sunshine can help improve the condition. 3 TRUE Stress can trigger psoriasis as the body’s way of coping with a stressful incident. 4 TRUE Psoriasis can affect your nails, making them thicker. 5 FALSE Psoriasis can happen at any age but…

The beauty sector generates billions of pieces of packaging every year – most of which ends up in landfills or the ocean. That’s why, The Body Shop have introduced the Return Recycle Repeat scheme. In just four simple steps, you can help protect our planet. • Step 1 – Next time you’re in a Body Shop store, return your empty plastic bottles, tubs, tubes and pots. • Step 2 – With a member of staff, put your used plastic into a recycling bin. When it’s full, TerraCycle will come to collect it so they can recycle or repurpose your waste into the likes of benches and watering cans. • Step 3 – If you’ve returned five plastic bottles, tubs, tubes or pots, a member of staff will reward your Love…

As I sank into my bubble bath, with my copy of Pick Me Up!, I sighed happily. It was a Friday night last November, and having a soak while reading my favourite mag was the best way to relax after a week at work. Flicking through the features, I devoured every story. Then I came to a page where two readers were talking about Pick Me Up! Bingo. They’d been playing bingo online and scooped the jackpot - both of them winning more than £1,000! Sounds fun, I thought as I read about the different games. I’d always been a fan of bingo and used to go to bingo halls to play. But sometimes I found them too busy. ‘Too much going on, I can barely keep up,’ I’d tell…

Poldark, BBC1 After what feels like a long year, Poldark is back! It’s the fifth and final series and as much as that breaks our hearts, there’s plenty to make this the best one yet. Our favourite couple are attempting to live a peaceful life together, but things never seem to go to plan. Poldark (Aiden Turner) is drawn to London after an old Army Colonel, Ned Despard (Vincent Regan), compels him to the capital to help. Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) manages their affairs in Cornwall and comes up against a new opponent, Tess (Sofia Oxenham). As always, it’s a visual delight. Love It or List It: Australia, More 4 If you love Kirstie and Phil’s UK programme, then you’re going to be addicted to this brand-new series that’s based in…

With Britain experiencing a tropical heatwave, Avis UK are sharing some of the best and most secret beaches for you to enjoy with your family… Epphaven Cove, Cornwall Best for: seclusion This small rocky beach is located between rocks and caves just over half a mile from Port Quin, making it the perfect quiet escape. The beach is quietly sheltered, and to the left of it is Lundy Hole – a must see landmark! When the tide goes out, the two beaches around Pennywilgie Point join together to create one slightly larger sandy beach, ideal for a relaxing sunbathing session. Don’t miss: Walk up among the cliffs for jaw dropping views! Whitstable Beach, Kent Best for: swimming There may not be a lot of sand at this secret spot, but…

Delicious summer cocktails with friends. Joanne Achary, Boston I threw a Hawaiian themed party in my garden! This is me and my sister in our flower garlands. Andre Christou, London I had this avocado in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was HUGE! Gemma Philips, Kent Wearing my crown beard after being beaten by bottomless brunch. Jess Young, Devon Me and Julia at a family BBQ. We were so lucky with the weather! Brenda Noble, Bristol 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.…

Do you wish that you could say no more? Many of us feel obliged to say yes every time someone asks a favour, even when you have zero time. Or we agree to do something even though we don’t want to! Turns out, saying no can make others respect us more. So how can you change the habit? Keep your response simple and don’t over apologise. You’re not asking their permission to say no. Don’t lie and say you might help when you know you won’t – you need to be true to yourself. Is there a compromise? Perhaps you can’t do it straight away, but you could revisit it in a week. Lastly, we worry that saying no will ruin a friendship or will lead to us being disliked.…

Q I’ve been told my blood pressure is too high. I exercise and eat well. How can I bring it down? Ian, Manchester A More than 1 in 4 adults in the UK will have high blood pressure and not be aware of it, as it may not cause any symptoms. Even if you exercise regularly and eat well, it is important to consider whether there is more you can do. Effective ways of reducing blood pressure are: stopping smoking, losing weight, increasing activity, reducing stress, getting a regular good night’s sleep, reducing alcohol intake, and also limiting the caffeine you drink.…

Placing my hand over my mouth, I tried to stifle my yawns. For a seven year old, school assemblies were so boring, and soon enough, I was fidgeting again, swinging my legs off my seat. It was 1996, and the first day of a new term at Hazelmere Infant School in Colchester. I couldn’t wait for the principal’s boring speech to end so I could go outside and catch up with my mates. All of a sudden, I felt someone tugging my ponytail from behind. Swinging round, I was met with the cheeky grin of a boy in the year above me. I’d never seen him before, but I knew from the twinkle in his eye he was trouble. ‘Oi! What’re you playing at?’ I scowled. He shrugged his shoulders…

Turning on my laptop, I made myself comfortable. ‘Time for a spot of bingo! I think,’ I said to my boyfriend Aaron, 28. ‘Why not?’ he grinned. I’d played a couple of games of bingo before on various sites, but decided to give Pick Me Up! Bingo a shot after a relative recommended it to me. ‘It’s great fun,’ she’d said. As a mum-of-five, I tended to be on the go rushing around and a quiet night in was rare. But, one evening in July the kids were in bed and me and Aaron were relaxing. I thought I would try something new, and listening to my relatives advice, signed up to Pick Me Up! Bingo. After depositing £10 to play, I browsed through the website. There was so much…

Using simple saving methods, the cost of weddings can decrease dramatically. By being clever and thrifty, Rosie Scott, 29, from London, spent less than £500 on her entire wedding – that’s less than what the average wedding cake costs alone. With the average wedding costing a fortune, Rosie was inspired to get creative, as both she and her husband Aaron were post-graduate students and short of cash. To keep costs low, she opted for their local village hall, which cost £100 for the day, and decorated it with handmade paper flowers and paper pom poms on the walls. She even created her own invites made from pressed flower paper. And instead of splashing out thousands on a fancy dress, she sewed herself a skirt made from fabric her fiancé had…

Animal news: New cancer research will save thousands of Labrador and Golden Retrievers Animal Health Trust charity has recently released research that investigates the most common skin cancer in dogs. This research will hugely benefit two of the UK’s most popular breeds of dog. They hope from this research to develop tests for genetic risk factors that will be able to be used to identify dogs in a susceptible breed that have the greatest risk of developing a particular cancer and will potentially pass this high risk onto their puppies. Three cheers for saving the pups! @juniperfoxx Juniper the fox 2.8M followers Juniper and her new brother, Fig, are North American red foxes born in captivity and descended from fur-farm foxes. They’ve both been rescued by a family that cares…

Research has shown that a pet could be good for your wallet as well as your health! With that in mind, the experts at price comparison site Moneyguru.com have sniffed out the top ways that your fur ball can make you money in a week… 1 Turn your dog into a social media star Is your dog the next Kim Paw-dashian? A sponsored post of your pooch – where your pet is photographed with a product – can fetch from a couple hundred pounds to tens of thousands! All you need to get started is a willing subject, some treats and a camera phone. Labracadabra– you could be earning some serious spondoodles. Brands can pay popular dog owners more than £2,500 for a post. Woof! 2 Go walkies People with busy…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Your ruling planet Mars makes it difficult for you not to put up a barrier to those who have been off with you lately. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture. The sooner you show you’re better than the awkward atmosphere which has built up the last several weeks, the better. Good news is headed your way via email or post. Best sign for support and help: Scorpio Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May There is a real feeling of déjà vu to your chart. You find meaning in all you see and do and many of you will be looking for signs about which direction your future should take. A greedy friend is using you and it’s time to let…