Table of contents for 6-Apr-2023 in Pick Me Up!

Putting clean glasses away, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a group of lads enter the bar. ‘Oh my God, hi!’ my friend squealed excitedly. We were working the high season in Magaluf back in June 2016, and her brother and a group of mates had come for a holiday. Chatting to the group, we arranged to meet them later after our shift. They were a nice group of lads, and we all got on well. One of them, Jordan, was especially funny. I could tell he liked to make people laugh, and he seemed like a genuinely nice bloke. We saw a lot of them during their week-long holiday and after they left, we all added each other on Facebook. I didn’t think much more if…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great prize from Addis. This Deluxe Three Tier Airer is a home essential perfect for laundry. The anti-crease drying bars mean your clothes will be ready to wear after they are dry and you can even hang up your underwear using the build-in pegs! Even more, it folds down for easy storage! For more ways to make your life easier, visit: addis.co.uk Straighten up! I no longer needed my mouse mat so I decided to use it as a heat-resistant mat to rest my hair straighteners on! Melanie Lodge, West Yorkshire Making a splash A really useful tip when painting your doors is to wrap some tin foil around the handles to avoid any splashes. Angela Garvin, Romford…

Cathy Press has been working as a Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor for over 25 years specialising in domestic and sexual abuse related issues with young people and adults. Her book When Love Bites: A Young Person's Guide to Escaping Harmful, Toxic and Hurtful Relationships is out now priced at £14.99. Visit: cathypress.co.uk Is the grass greener? Q After leaving my husband for another man in 2015, I can’t help but feel like I’ve made a terrible mistake. I thought the grass was greener but now I know what I had was amazing – is it too late to try again? Gemma, Hull A I guess this largely depends on what kind of relationship and friendship you have with your husband now or has the situation severed all the trust between…

Staring at the computer screen, I could feel my focus wandering. I felt like I had no energy and long days staring at blue light were not helping in the slightest. Working within the charity sector meant I had tight deadlines and lots of responsibility, too. And it was draining. I didn’t feel as sharp or as on the ball as I had been when I was younger. Sat in meetings, I would have to jot everything that was said down as I was struggling to retain information. My focus wasn’t there anyway – when my energy was low, I would procrastinate whilst working, not achieving as much in the day as I would have liked to. This has to be more than age, I thought. Besides, in 2021 I…

• Follow Claire on Instagram: @Claireparklanebeauty 1. What made you want to get into beauty in the first place? When I was at school, I was not one of the high-flying, academic types. My eye had started to clock the idea of beauty after taking my A-levels and by this time I had started to learn I was never going to thrive in an office setting. From the moment I started, I knew there was no other option for me – I just loved it from day one. 2. How did your career start? I would say my career wasn’t a smooth sailing one – I ping ponged around settings but I always had some unaccounted-for drive. From somewhere within that, I decided to open a salon with little to…

Rifling through the school backpack to pick out a lunchbox and a new reading book, who knew what else I was going to find. My daughter Darcie, now five, would love to get her hands dirty, involved in all things arts and crafts at school. And she’d often come home with a new portrait for me to stick proudly on the fridge. I’d often find plenty of colouring pens, paper and pencils scattered around the house, too. So, when the academic term started again in September last year, I knew Darcie would have fun completing a whole range of different arts and crafts during her day. Getting my things together to pick Darcie up one Wednesday afternoon, that’s when all the parents were invited into the classroom to see what…

Buy of the week Nothing complements a good old spring clean like a sweet-smelling home – and Fabulosa have got your back. Adding four new reed diffusers to its much-loved collection, there’s a fragrance for everyone – including some extra-special designer-inspired scents that won’t break the bank. We love Diva, inspired by Vera Wang Princess, and Polka Dot, inspired by Marc Jacobs Dot. • £2.99 each, available from B&M We’re loving What’s better than a hot cross bun this Easter? A hot cross bun doughnut hybrid! That’s right, Crosstown’s popular vegan Hot Cross Bun Doughnuts are back on the menu – but for a limited time only, so catch them while you can. The spiced dough is filled with a deliciously creamy cinnamon custard, topped with Seville orange glaze and…

By the time of the trial at Nottingham Crown Court in July 2020, I was six months pregnant. It was traumatic to relive it but I was determined to get justice for Jordan. Kai was the one who had thrown the first punch, after he took offence to Jordan’s jokey reply to his comment about being ‘fat and ginger’. He’d punched Jordan in the face, and when Jordan, Ben and Adam decided to leave to avoid any further trouble, Kai and his mates followed them up the road. They shouted abuse and Jordan had tried to diffuse the situation. But Kai had punched Jordan again and then his mate Cameron punched him, too – sending him to the ground, where he’d smashed his head on the pavement, fracturing his skull.…

Marigold has teamed up with cleaning expert Lindsay Turford, @dazlincleaning, to create the ultimate guide to helping you spring clean. How to… Keep your shower screens free of watermarks Ditch those expensive daily shower sprays, instead use a dry Marigold Let It Shine On & On! Use a microfibre cloth after showering to quickly wipe away any water residue. These thick cloths are really absorbent and this is will keep your screens free of watermarks and limescale, using zero chemicals – they’re kinder on your pocket and the planet, too! Just hang to dry after use and wash once a week in the washing machine. If watermarks become an issue, pop on a pair of Marigold Longer Bathroom Gloves and pick up a Marigold Cleaning Me Softly Non Scratch Scourer.…

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world. When you don’t have enough iron in your diet your body cannot make enough haemoglobin, which means your body won’t receive enough oxygen – causing anaemia. Lack of oxygen to different organs and tissues causes a variety of side effects including headaches, dizziness, impairment of the immune system and fatigue. Toral Shah, nutritionist at iron supplement brand BlueIron, shares her top tips for keeping your iron levels up. • Please visit: blueiron.co.uk 1) For the meat-eaters If you are an omnivore, ensure you eat at least one portion of bioavailable haem iron (iron found in animal tissue) rich foods a day, including organ meats, seafood (mussels are cheap and in season), beef, tinned or jarred sardines or…

You may think of seaweed being slimy and gross, or as a backdrop to The Little Mermaid – but did you know it is packed with health benefits? Sea plant snacking is not new – it has been done in Asian cultures, particularly China, Japan and Korea, for hundreds of years. Here are a few of its key benefits: 1) Gut health – seaweed is packed with fibre which helps regulate a healthy gut. A lot of this fibre can’t be digested so it is eaten by our gut microbes. This keeps our gut healthy and our immune response strong. 2) Heart health – a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported seaweeds may be used to help lower blood pressure and promote heart…

How to register It’s FREE to enter and it’s so easy to do, just visit, comps.lifedeathprizes.com and register by hitting the Create Free Account button and then you can enter as many competitions as you like. Go on, have fun! For website rules of play, visit comps.lifedeathprizes.com/rules. T’s&C’s apply, UK only.…

Lifting my hips, with my gold tassels and beads following along, it was time to get shimmying! Standing in front of a group of amazing women and the occasional man, this wasn’t just any old keep fit routine – this was belly dancing, something I had been teaching for over 50 exciting years. From the moment I could walk it was clear that I was destined for a life of rhythm. With my grandmother Elsie sending me to my first ballet class at just two years old, I completed my first performance a year later and soon went on to try a range of routines throughout my teens, into my adult years, too. Tap, Irish dancing, Greek dancing, even a bit of ballroom alongside it all as well. That was…

• Follow Megan on Instagram: @megsmakes95. To shop visit: megsmakes95.etsy.com PRODUCTS: 1. Tell us more about how your business started – what was your thought process? I was furloughed and struggling with mental health in lockdown, having lost my best friend to brain cancer, so I started working with polymer clay as an escape. I soon discovered that making earrings gave me a way to express myself! 2. How do you make your items and how long do they take you? It involves conditioning the clay so it’s pliable, tracing around a pattern with a craft knife, transferring onto a tile so it can be baked, then sanding the edges and drilling for the metal components to attach. Then, voila! Each piece can take up to two hours. 3. What…

If you happen to find some valuable treasure, there are a few extra steps you have to take to declare it. If you find something that classes as treasure – any item that is at least 10% precious metal like gold or silver and 300 years old, prehistoric metal, or coins that are at least 10% precious metal – then you have 14 days of either finding the treasure or realising it is treasure to declare it to your local coroner. If you find something of historical interest, you should report it to the Portable Antiques Scheme website. Your local museum is also a great place to seek advice on the items you find out mudlarking. • For more information on treasure legislation, visit: gov.uk/treasure…

Verdict: GENIUS! Must-have gadget Wooden Back Scratcher, £3, Flying Tiger Have you ever laid in bed wiggling around to try and reach that pesky itch, but nothing seems to work? We have a simple yet amazing solution! This telescopic back scratcher is perfect to keep on the side of your bed, meaning you can extend it to your chosen length, getting to that hard-to-reach place. Take it in your bag, on holiday or even keep it in the office. If you’re lucky, you could get someone special to do it for you – a gift that keeps giving! Scratch that itch… Now, admittedly this man takes the idea of a back scratcher to all new levels! You thought one was enough – well, not for Manfred Rothstein. The doctor from the…

Here is my gorgeous cat Desmo looking after me after my recent hysterectomy. He’s such a good boy and truly my little nurse! Kelly Pickard, Hull Here’s Peppa posing with her picture in the mag! She loved it and we couldn’t get it from under her nose all day. She’s now a famous name in town… Jenna Hydes, Bulith This is Casey at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia. Aww what pouch potatoes! Debs Hunt, Nottingham Here’s my Barbie reading a miniature version of the mag I featured in! We’re both still living in a Barbie world… Clare Rawling, Blackpool One Sunday recently we were bored and decided to take a photo for the grandchildren. This is the result. The message read: ‘With Love From Naan’. We haven’t heard…

Bowel troubles Q My toddler has been suffering with awful constipation recently. He’s never had it before and seems really affected. We’re giving him lots of fluid. What else should I do? Charlotte, Middlesex A Constipation in toddlers and children is very common with research for Docusol Paediatric showing that three-quarters of parents say their child has been affected. Before you consider treatment, be sure that your child is constipated. Constipation means that your child is pooing less than three times a week, they may be straining, pooing may be painful and the poop hard – in the shape of corn on the cob or a bunch of grapes – and difficult to pass. It is important to give lots of fluid and when your child will eat, to increase…

BUILDING YOUR BASE TRUSTY DENIM FINISH THE LOOK…

Staring out of the office window, I let my mind wander to happy summer days in my childhood as I listened the nostalgic tune of the ice cream van. I want to have that kind of freedom again, I thought. I was working as a graphic designer and if I was honest, I felt trapped. I’d always wanted to set up my own business and something about the ice cream van sparked a sugary-sweet idea within me. Having been vegan for 10 years, I had always missed out on Pick N’ Mix sweets – and thinking back to memories of fizzy cola bottes and foam bananas, I knew that other people must be feeling the same. I had always been a dessert before main course kind of girl. So taking…

Getting out in the fresh air is great for feeling positive and a technique used by many for giving their mental health a boost. What’s more, many of us are opting for hobbies like hiking, outdoor swimming and gardening to get us out in the great outdoors. But have you ever thought about mudlarking? Riverside beachcombing has taken social media platforms like TikTok by storm, with #mudlarking racking up a whopping 320.4 million views. But what is mudlarking and why is it such a hot new hobby? Coming from not-so-glamorous beginnings, mudlarking originated in Victorian London, where more impoverished residents would head to the Thames at low tide to search for old coins and bits of scrap metal – anything they could sell. Now archaeologists and weekend enthusiasts alike trawl…

SUPERHERO SERUMS Meet the new Booster Serums from Simple. Designed to supercharge your routine, these gentle serums are great for those with sensitive skin for instant results. After using your cleanser, simply apply on their own or mix in with your favourite moisturiser. • £3.99 each, from Boots Choose from: 1. 10% Niacinamide: A powerful allrounder that can take on a range of skin concerns – from dry skin to oily and even sensitive complexions. 2. 3% Hyaluronic Acid: A hydrating, power-plumping miracle booster for your most youthful looking skin yet. 3. 10% Vitamin C+E+F: Get a glowing complexion without irritating the skin. This multi-vitamin serum will leave you with a nourished, radiant look. Hollywood glam Want to have a little fun with your nails this season? Well, Kim Kardashian’s…

To everyone that knew him, Michael Keene was a caring son, father and grandfather – he took these roles seriously, with family always coming first in his life. As well as working in construction, Michael was a part-time carer for his mother Irene, who suffered with dementia. He had moved into her condo in Connecticut so he could care for her properly, and even took his daughter Jessica into the home in 2018, along with her boyfriend Quahzier and their three-year-old son. Even though it meant giving up his bedroom and sleeping on the couch, nothing was too much for Michael. He just wanted his home to be a safe space for his family. Jessica was a quiet sort of girl, usually shielding away from confrontation. She regularly met up…

7 days of hope & happiness with Claire Petulengro www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Tie up loose ends in business before the weekend when the moon in Scorpio will be bringing your jealous and suspicious nature to the fore. The need to relax with those you love is strong, so if anyone thinks they can throw responsibilities on you, better think again. Call who you really want to talk to – they miss you, as much as you miss them! Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May You’ve been taking advice from those who have lives you wouldn’t want. Remember who you are and who you want to be. Talks with family see you revealing more than you want about your personal life. Remember, you don’t have to admit…