Table of contents for 19-Apr-2018 in Pick Me Up!

I’d really like to nominate my my mother Sharon for a million reasons! My mum is the most selfless and caring woman that I know and I want her to know just how much I appreciate her. She’s my best friend and I cannot physically say thank you enough to her for all that she does and for just being her. My mum is such a loving and funny woman who’ll do anything that she can to help out her loved ones. She also constantly cares for my little sister, who has got autism. I see her kindness on a daily basis and know that there is truly no limit to her love. She never complains and does everything she can to look after everyone else. Her ability to get…

I’d only been seeing my boyfriend Chris, 28, for six months when I fell pregnant. We’d met through a mutual friend in a bar in November 2016, and we just clicked. Within weeks, we became completely inseparable. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, but when I fell pregnant last May, I panicked. I was only 22, in my last year of university studying to be a teacher. Chris was studying to be an engineer. ‘It’s not great timing,’ I told him. ‘We’ll make it work,’ Chris promised me. We both came from big families and loved kids, plus I knew he’d make a great dad. As my bump grew, we both got more and more excited. In August, we went for our 19-week…

Bracelet Flask, £40, shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk Putting a brand-new spin on your average hip flask, this accessory means you can always have a drink to hand! Fill yours with your tipple of choice and wear it just like a bracelet – we reckon the metallic black will look great on a night out. Urbanist Padded Cycling Knickers, £49, velovixen.com Anyone who cycles to or from work will know that too much time in the saddle can take its toll on your, erm, bottom. Designed to be sexier than your average cycling gear, these padded pants are a lifesaver for cyclists on the lookout for a little extra comfort Betty Box, £12.99 per month, betty.me Starting periods can be a tricky time for teens, so these little boxes of…

Everyone at work thought I’d buy another dog When Andrea Hamilton, 44, from Hartlepool, won, her family got spoilt rotten – even the dogs! It was November 2017 and as usual, the house was chaos. Being a mum of two kids, Charlotte, 13, and Harry, 10, was madness. And I had just as many dogs. So you can imagine the days I have! I use any me-time I get to chill out and relax. One of the things I like to do is play Pick Me Up! Bingo. I’d been a member for over three years and had some small wins here and there. A win in November 2016 playing 90-ball Bingo in the Emerald Bingo room went to buy my West Highland terrier pup, Charlie. ‘Without my win we…

‘It’s nonsense to think a woman can’t do a certain job because they aren’t strong enough, or a male can’t do a job like hairdressing because they aren’t delicate enough. People can do whatever job they set their mind to, if they work and train hard enough.’ Michelle Slinn, Chesterfield ‘I always encourage my daughter to keep an open mind about careers. She’s 5, and always refers to builders, police officers and firefighters as men. Yes, in general, it’s probably fair to say that men are physically more robust, but it’s important to recognise individuals as individuals. The sky’s the limit for our girls!’ Jackie Wilson, Basingstoke 'Some jobs, such as manual work are physically suited to men and generally they tend to be naturally better at them. And, likewise,…

As the plane bumped along the runway, my 6-year-old daughter Carly was bursting with joy. ‘We’re here!’ she cried delightedly. I was just as excited. And not just because I could finally get out of my tiny aeroplane seat... After an uncomfortable eight-hour flight, we’d finally landed in Orlando, Florida. It was August 2014 and my hubby Gavin, 45, and I had been planning this holiday-of-a-lifetime for ages. We couldn’t wait to take our kids, Laura, 20, Adam, 13, and Carly to all the parks. We wanted to see everything, do everything. Only the uncomfortable journey was just the start of our problems... First off, we went to Busch Gardens, queued for hours in the blistering heat for the rollercoaster Cheetah Hunt. ‘Almost our turn,’ I said, squeezing Carly’s hand.…

While my love life had been blossoming, so had my career! The first time I heard about tarot cards was when I was 17, and watching the Bond film Live and Let Die. A big part of the plot focused on the character Solitaire, a tarot reader. I became fascinated with tarot. But it wasn’t until I was 22 that I saw a pack in real life. I’d moved into shared accommodation, and one of my housemates read tarot cards, showed me how they worked. I was a natural! Looking at the cards, I instinctively knew their meanings. Tarot provided a creative outlet to my day job in recruitment. I’d come home from work, get out my cards and study the deck, or do readings for friends. But ,when I…

My two sons Rory and Fraser weren’t as happy as the games console was for this photo on our trip to Brighton. Natasha Douglas, Rainham Looking rather hot and sweaty but also rather proud after completing my first aquathon! Alexandra Low, Halesowen, W Mids My fiancé Martin taking in the latest issue of Pick Me Up! Lorraine Bussey, via email Lovely friend Alice chilling on the beach in Antigua on holiday! There’s got to be a more comfortable way to relax… Corrina Williams, Denbighshire My husband Stephen and I looked like we’d shrunk when we sat on a giant chair in Sun Peaks, Canada. Andrea Richardson, Essex Seems hubby Simon is doing his best Michael Jackson impression on a hill…

Constipation cure? Q I really struggle with my bowels but I’ve been told that relying on laxatives for relief all the time is dangerous. What else can I do? Christy, Bournemouth A Constipation is very common and can be due to lifestyle, medication, bowel disease or your bowel function. Using laxatives isn’t necessarily harmful, but can mask an underlying problem, so it’s best to look into your causes or triggers and then address them. Treat it right! Q I often get thrush under my breasts, but the anti-fungal cream no longer works and now I’ve noticed that it only improves when I take steroids for my breathing… Mary, Dudley A Thrush infections resolve well with antifungal treatments. This may, in fact, be a less common type of psoriasis that affects…

Q My husband is increasingly anxious and obsessed with exercise and dieting. Could he have an eating disorder, even though he’s not overly thin? Jane, Newcastle A Eating disorders arise as sufferers over-control part of their life to compensate for a perceived lack of control over distressing emotions they are feeling. Please encourage your husband to seek support. What’s normal, what’s not Ingrown toenail These are relatively common. When the sides of the toenail grow into the surrounding skin, it becomes ingrown. Symptoms include pain when pressure is put on the toe, inflammation and sometimes bleeding. Visit your GP if the toe is badly inflamed, bleeding or has pus coming from it. Home treatments include keeping feet clean, changing socks regularly, cutting the toenail straight and wearing comfortable shoes. 79%…

Celebrate your new arrival and get £25 CASH Little fella Meet my 5-month-old heartbreaker Oliver! He loves his mummy, and he’s going to grow up to be a right ladies’ man, I know it! Sarah Goodwin, Nantwich Shhhhh..! My angel Amelie at 10 days old was obviously having the sweetest of dreams. It melts your heart! Kirsten Tennant, Southampton Tickled pink Willow, 3 months, looks pretty in pink in this candid shot. Whatever you do, don’t look at the camera! Leigh Thewlis, Bradford…

Our majestic pooch Ralph enjoys rule of the sofa and the kitchen. Paige Bradshaw, Leicester It’s the tortoise and the hare! Well, almost… It’s bunny Molly with her best mate Trevor the Turtle. Karen Hill, Gwynedd 'Cats are very fragile, Susan,’ says Wilson the cat. Susan Angus, Wolverhampton My labrador Chewy loves a good run in the river, even if it’s close to freezing! Patricia Sanders, Sutton My little kitty Toby wanted to help his dad with the painting. Michaela Lewis, Somerset Brambles and Peanuts get cosy under the covers. Yasmin Burns, Nottingham…

Umberto Giannini Wonder Lift, £7, Boots Sprayed on to your roots and mid-lengths, this clever spray gives even the thinnest of tresses a pretty hefty dose of texture and volume. Use on dry hair, and blast with a hairdryer to set before a night out, or leave it to air dry for a more natural look. L’Oréal Age Perfect Beautifying Silver Care in Touch of Pearl, £7.99, Boots Designed for naturally grey hair, this ammonia-free toner is applied like a hair mask to counteract yellow tones. The result? Really hydrated hair with a touch of natural-looking colour that lasts for between two and 10 washes, depending on your hair type. Eau Thermale Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream, £14.50, Boots Going through the menopause can cause your skin to become dry…

Popcorn granola Serves: 6 Prep: 10 mins Cook: 30 mins 1 Heat oven to 160C/Gas 3. Put the honey, unsalted butter and cinnamon in a saucepan and heat on low until melted and combined. Set to one side. 2 In a brownie tin, mix together the popcorn, oats, flaked almonds and mixed seeds. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry mix until evenly coated. 3 Bake for 15 mins, then remove from the oven and give a mix before placing it back in for a further 15 mins. 4 Allow to cool, then mix in the dried fruit. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Recipe from Metcalfe’s Popcorn in association with @thatcakeguyldn Popcorn bowl Makes: 1 large bowl…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Nothing happens unless first we dream. Are you living your life the way you want, or the way you think will make others happy? It’s only by answering this question with complete honesty this week that you’ll know whether to say yes or no to a proposal or offer you’ve had. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Do you think you’ve misread some signals or do you think you should attempt to move a situation to the next level? Pluto tells me you can afford to go out on a limb, so don’t listen to naysayers. A break in the family may shock but is sure to be for the best for all concerned. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Don’t accept…

When you’re a mum of two young’uns, shopping is a mission. So last November, I braced myself for a trip to Asda with my little terrors Ronnie, 2, and Isla, 5. Ronnie needed new shoes. He’d worn his out running around, causing mischief! Well, not today! Arriving at the supermarket, I plopped Ronnie in the front of the trolley, strapping him in. I’m watching you! I thought. Isla tottered alongside me, jabbering away. That day, there was a baby event on and I spotted some potty-training seats to sit on top of the loo. I’d been trying to train Ronnie to use the big boy’s toilet. He was having none of it, of course! ‘This is to help you wee!’ I smiled to my littl’un, passing him a loo seat.…

Giggles rang through the living room. My brother Eamonn was pulling silly faces at my son, Cormac, 2, again. A brilliant uncle and godfather to my boy, you couldn’t have asked for a better role model than Eamonn, 22. With only 13 months between us, we were best friends, too. Our dad, Eamonn Snr, 46, had been a professional boxer and seemed to have handed his golden gloves down to my little bro, whose own career in the ring was gathering pace. Blessed with brains, too, he was studying for a degree in Engineering, and had set up a personal-training business. We both still lived at home with our mum, Mary, 55. So, one evening in May 2015, as Eamonn headed out, me and Mum both hung over the banister…

1 It’s askin condition. 2 There are over 20 different types of ichthyosis. 3 It’s usually caused by external factors. 4 There is no treatment. 1 TRUE It causes widespread and persistent thick, dry, scaly skin. 2 TRUE Some types of the condition are inherited at birth, while others occur during adulthood. 3 FALSE Most people with ichthyosis have inherited a particular faulty gene from a parent, and symptoms usually appear at birth or within the first year of life. 4 FALSE While there is no cure for ichthyosis, a daily skincare routine can keep the symptoms mild and manageable.…

She said she was put in a lifeboat, survived the ordeal CANADA: SINKING LOW On 10 April 1912, Loraine Allison, then aged 2, boarded RMS Titanic in Southampton with father Hudson, mother Bess and brother Trevor . But, when the ship sank after colliding with an iceberg just five days later, there was no sign of the Montreal family. It was concluded that, along with her family, the toddler had died on board the doomed ship. Then, in 1940, Helen Kramer came forward and claimed to be the missing girl. Announcing her identity on a radio show called We, The People, she said she was put in a lifeboat by her father and survived the ordeal. A man who she knew as ‘Mr Hyde’ apparently took her in, and they lived…

Sitting on the sofa, I glanced at the spot in the kitchen where our golden Labrador used to sleep. ‘I do miss Barney,’ I sighed to my eldest daughter Megan, 24. We’d had to have Barney put down in December 2016 due to his old age. Three months on and the house still seemed so empty. ‘I’d love another dog,’ I continued. ‘You'll have to convince Dad first,’ Megan smiled. My husband, Darren, 44, was adamant that we wouldn’t be getting another dog. We’d been devastated to lose Barney and Darren didn’t want to go through that again. But my heart longed for a little furry companion. I was determined to convince him a new dog was what we needed. Months of begging ensued and, in March 2017, Darren finally…

Sitting in the back of the car, I looked at my arms and legs, bronzed and freckled from a week of Spanish sun. My mum Lesley and dad Ashley were a bit older than other parents. I was 9, Dad was in his late 50s and Mum in her early 40s - and they spoilt me rotten. As well as holidays abroad, I had any toy I wanted and stacks of presents at Christmas and birthdays. Some kids at school were envious. One girl in particular was mean, picking on Mum’s age. ‘You live with your nan!’ she’d taunt. But Mum told me to ignore her, that she was just jealous. So I didn’t take any notice. Life was happy. But that day, as we pulled into our street after…