Table of contents for 04-Jan-2018 in Pick Me Up!

What A Comeback! So Sabrina The Teenage Witch , which I loved, is coming back – but in a darker version than the original starring Melissa Joan Hart. Check out a list of surprising celebs who starred in it at: lifedeathprizes.com/sabrina-teenage-witch 7 …that’s how many Game of Thrones seasons me and my fella caught up on in a matter of months. It was definitely worth the hype! What A Cutie! Welcome to the world – my new niece Heidi. What a beauty she is! I’m loving being Auntie Sophie for the first time. What A Helper! Luckily for one of my friends, they get to have a ‘helper’ when they’re working from home! Not sure how much aid boxer Chief actually…

Scrolling through Facebook in June 2015, I saw a friend suggestion pop up. It instantly caught my eye - Sam Standerwick was gorgeous. The biggest smile, tanned skin, toned bod... Nervously, I added him. Shy, I’d never done anything like that before. So forward! Hi, thanks for the add. Do I know you? he messaged. Not yet... Feeling my cheeks blush, I started to type. Soon, the conversation was flowing. We only lived 40 minutes apart, had lots of mutual friends. We both loved the gym, holidays, shopping and family. From then on, we messaged constantly. We should meet, Sam suggested. A week after I’d sent that friend request, I drove to his family home. The connection was instant. Watching films and chatting, we got to know each other better.…

1 Set A Budget  Sounds simple, but the more you keep an eye on your spending, the more you’ll save. 2 Quit The Gym!  We’re all for a health kick, but how often will you really go to the gym? Is it worth paying for a contract? payasugym.com offers different daily passes, depending on area. 3 Leave Your Cards At Home Keeping credit and debit cards in your purse makes it easier to get carried away with your spending. Carry cash, so you’re not tempted to pay out more than you should. 4 Unsubscribe From All Those Mailing Lists Don’t be tempted to go mad with your online shopping – unsubscribe to the heaps of emails you receive from retailers.…

‘It was a relief finally to know what was wrong with me’ Growing up with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome isn’t easy. The condition affects connective tissue and causes joint hypermobility, which makes it very easy for joints to become dislocated. I was 18 months old when my shoulder first popped out while I was playing. Since then, I’ve had at least one dislocation a day - elbows, shoulders, collarbone... The slightest movement can cause a joint to come loose, leaving me in such bad pain, I sometimes pass out from it. It’s exhausting, too. When I was younger, doctors thought I was making it up. Once, I fell to the ground in agony during a PE lesson, only for the teacher to tell me off for messing around. My mum, Barbara, now…

Sitting at home one evening in 2007 with my son Cameron, then 6, my vision suddenly went really strange. I could see flashing and floaters across both eyes. Next day, I still couldn’t see properly, so I left Cameron with my mum Amanda, 58, while my dad Paul, 60, drove me to A&E. I had an inkling of the cause, as nine years earlier, I’d been diagnosed with a rare condition called acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) after my optician found inflammation in my right eye. As I wasn’t suffering any obvious symptoms then, I carried on as normal. Referred to Royal Hallamshire Hospital, I was told AZOOR had now caused deterioration in my left eye. ‘But I only had it in my right eye before,’ I protested. I…

Pants Reveal All What does your underwear say about you? BOY SHORTS  You’re sporty, flirty, easy-going, social and ambitious. THONG  You’re a straight-talking friend and the leader of the pack. Sexy, organised and not afraid to say how you feel. BIKINI  With a box set on the sofa – that’s where you’re often found. A relaxed, free spirit. GRANNY PANTS  Comfort is key – who cares what anyone else thinks? You’re cool and quirky, and dating isn’t a priority. COMMANDO  Wearing no knickers means there’s less washing to do. You’re easy-going, positive a problem-solver and a fun person to spend time with. 70s FILM CLASSICS 1 The Muppet Movie 2 Bugsy Malone 3The Railway Children , 4 Picnic At Hanging Rock 5 Star Wars 6 Saturday Night Fever If you…

I WON THE £1,000 JACKPOT Theresa spent her winnings on a luxury holiday with her friend Theresa Feve, 54, Scunthorpe Years ago, I used to play bingo with my mates. But life as a mum-of-four was busy and I’d found less time to play. Now the kids were all grown up, with lives of their own. So I had more time to spare and joined Pick Me Up! Bingo. Sapphire became my favourite game. And I loved the slot game Rainbow Riches, too. Then, one day in May 2016, I won £5 on the site. So I bought a few tickets for Sapphire and, before I knew it, I was in the lead to win. Suddenly...I won £900! I’d just a booked a holiday to Tenerife with a friend so,…

ASK JESS Q The combination of cold weather and burning the candle at both ends has left my hair dry and my nails brittle. Is there anything I can use to fix them? Jane Morris, 31, Salisbury A Pretty Gorgeous Beauty Formula, £24.99 for a 30-day supply from Holland & Barrett, contains argan oil, biotin, zinc and vitamin C to restore both your hair and your nails to their former glory. Not cheap, but worth it! READER’S TIP Swap black liquid eyeliner for brown pencil for a softer look. Lydia Smith, 56, Leeds 3 New Year’s Beauty RESOLUTIONS… 1 Take your make-up off before bed… Guilty of sleeping in your make-up? Serial offenders should keep Source of Nature Facial Wipes by the bed for a quick once-over. Better than nothing…

NAME GAME Match The Real Name To The Celebrity! Q1 DECLAN MACMANUS Elvis Costello Declan Donnelly Dean Gaffney Q2 REGINALD KENNETH DWIGHT Kevin Costner Justin Bieber Elton John Q3 MARION MITCHELL MORRISON Michael Douglas John Wayne Russell Kane Q4 FARROKH BULSARA Fred Astaire Farrah Fawcett Freddie Mercury GUESS THE YEAR • Kylie Minogue releases her first single I Should Be So Lucky. • Rick Astley has a hit with Never Gonna Give You Up. • The Great Storm kills 23. • Black Monday wipes £50bn off the Stock Exchange. • IKEA opens its first store in Warrington. UP IN SMOKE! Two Mysterious Cases Of Spontaneous Combustion B us passengers in Lambeth, south London, in 1967 noticed blue flames in the window of a derelict house, and called the emergency services.…

Rebecca made a feathered friend Walking through the door, my sister Sophie, 23, had something in her coat pocket. It was moving! ‘I found it by the side of the road,’ she said, gently opening her pocket. It was an adorable duckling the size of my palm. ‘Awww!’ I gasped. But the poor thing was shaking like a leaf. We gave it water, food and a hot-water bottle. ‘We need to find its family,’ my mum Andrea, 47, said. ‘Let’s try the park pond,’ I suggested. So we headed off together. There were lots of other feathered friends there, quacking away. We set our duckling in the water. But suddenly the others swarmed, pecking it and pushing its head down. ‘Suddenly, the other ducks pushed its head down’ ‘Something’s not…

‘Piling on more pounds, my weight crept up and up’ Slouching onto the sofa, I dug into a greasy takeaway. ‘Long day,’ I sighed to my boyfriend Frankie, 28. I’d met Frankie at 18. After four years together, we’d fallen into a cosy routine. Takeaways for dinner and snacks on the sofa. And working long hours at a call centre meant I had no set mealtimes and a bad diet. I’d grab food when I could, and it was always of the junk variety. By the time I got home, I’d be craving more food - and it was never a salad. The pounds had piled on. Before I knew it, I’d hit 14st. At 5ft 7in, it was starting to show. Eating for two In June 2009, aged 25,…

Gathering everyone round for a group photo, I couldn’t help marvelling at my amazing family. There was my husband Joey, 40, our children Phoenix, 9, Izrael, 4, Judah, 3, and my daughter Brooklyn, 20, who was from a previous relationship. ‘Aren’t we lucky?’ I smiled to Joey as we looked through the snaps afterwards. But next morning, on 8 January 2017, little Phoenix was feeling ill. ‘My throat’s really sore,’ she complained. The doctor thought it was flu or strep throat, and told us to come back if Phoenix didn’t improve. But hours later, she was in dreadful pain, her temperature was sky-high, and her face was so swollen she was barely recognisable. There was also a small red rash on her neck. Death’s door Frantic, I rushed Phoenix to…

Avoiding the sickness bugs QI’m really concerned that I might get norovirus. I had it last year and having projectile vomiting and diarrhoea was awful. What’s the best way of preventing it? Katherine, Scarborough A Good hand hygiene and avoiding touching your mouth, nose and eyes is the best way to prevent transmission of the noro (and other winter) viruses as they infect via moist mucus membranes from infected individuals. But they’re difficult to avoid completely. Holiday pox Q My daughter has chickenpox and we’re going on holiday. I’m worried she’s infectious. When is she safe to travel? Lia, Warmley A The chickenpox virus is in the fluid-filled spots, so it stops being infectious once the last spot has scabbed over. This is usually around 5-6…

QI slipped over and landed really hard on my tailbone and it is very painful. I have a desk job and now I can’t sit down comfortably. Jim, Dartford A Inflammation of the tailbone (coccydynia), can be aggravated by sitting. Take pain relief, move about as much as possible, and sit upright and forward. Hot and cold packs can help to ease the inflammation. 15% …that’s the percentage of extra deaths in winter compared to other seasons, according to the Office for National Statistics.…

Sausage And Apple Tray Bake £1.42 per serving Serves: 2 Prep: 15 min Cook: 40 min ◻ 400g pork sausages, cut in half ◻ 2 red onions, cut into wedges ◻ 2 red apples, such as Gala, cut into wedges ◻ 1 bunch of sage ◻ 3tbsp olive oil ◻ 2tbsp honey ◻ 2tbsp wholegrain mustard 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4. Add sausage halves, onion and apple wedges to a large baking tray and scatter over sage leaves. 2 Whisk together olive oil, honey and wholegrain mustard in a small bowl, then drizzle over sausage, onion and apple mixture. 3 Roast for 35-40 min, or until golden-brown and sticky. Serve with creamy mashed potato, if you like. TOP TIP This recipe uses pork sausages, as the flavours…

It’s illegal to tattoo anyone under the age of 18. So why are we seeing so many kids with an arm covered in artwork? It’ll definitely make you look twice, seeing a 4-year-old with a full sleeve. Only, this new trend may look like the real thing, but it’s legal, pain-free and washes off. It’s the spray-on tattoo. Vicky McAdam from Gateshead saw the idea in the US and decided to bring it across the pond. Vicky told the Newcastle Chronicle , ‘They are only young, but the little kids love getting their tattoos to look like their mams and dads. ‘To see their faces when they look in the mirror is priceless. They absolutely adore their airbrushed tattoos.’ Vicky, who doesn’t have any real tattoos herself, has been inundated…

1 Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Awakening Gel-Cream, £12.99, Boots The skin around your eyes is really delicate, and can be one of the first places to show signs of dryness when the weather gets colder. I used this morning and night, and found my skin was much softer after just a few applications. 2 Nivea Q10 Plus C Anti-Wrinkle + Energy Eye Treatment, £10.95, Tesco If I get anything less than eight hours’ sleep, I wake up to puffy eyes with dark rings around them – lucky me! This treatment made a real difference to both, and sank in quickly, so it was easy to apply concealer over the top, 3 Beauty Kitchen Abyssinian Oil Intensive Eye & Deep Lines Serum, £14.99, Holland & Barrett This light, fragrant formula packs…

My greatest love has always been horses. I’ve been around them since the day I was born. My mum Lucy, 41, was a local showjumping champ, and, as a little girl, I’d watch her perform. ‘I want to do that!’ I gasped to my dad Brian, 41, awestruck. Winning team Before I started school, I was riding. My favourite horse was Cloud - she was beautiful! While at primary school, I entered my first shows. I didn’t win at first, but caught the competing bug! The excitement, the crowds... From there, I entered loads of competitions, and won many showjumping medals on PJ, my competition horse. Sometimes, I’d make a silly mistake, fall off. But it was never anything serious, and I always jumped right back on. But then, in…

Work hard, play hard. You know the drill! Except, since I was 18, it’d been all about work. I’d toiled away in investment management, climbed the career ladder. By 30, I was managing a team and looking after accounts for millionaires. The work was hard, the days long. Usually 14 hours! I was proud of my career, but I barely saw my husband Tony, 37. Then, in September 2015, we had baby Rory. I dreaded going on maternity leave. But as it turned out, I loved it. I adored being a mum. When Rory was 4 months old, I discovered baby swimming lessons with Turtle Tots. They were incredible. Rory babbled away, splashing everyone. Last September, I was due back to work. But I felt so torn. I’d be doing…

Holding my mum’s hand, I skipped along happily beside her. We were on our way to her best mate’s house. Aged 7, I loved going there. Mum’s mate and her partner, Colin Darlington, then 21, always made a fuss of me. ‘How you doing, kid?’ Colin said, ruffling my hair when we arrived. I flashed him a cheeky grin. ‘Aren’t you a pretty little thing!’ he winked. Mum’s mate and Colin were always over at our place, too. I saw them most days. They were like an aunt and uncle. But when I was 11, everything changed. One day when Mum wasn’t looking, Colin touched me between my legs. Too young to understand it, I brushed it off. It didn’t stop Colin from doing it again, though. And again, and…

Mums, Listen Up! Struggling to keep the kids entertained? Download Hoop, the free app that lists over 50,000 children’s events nationwide every month. Better still, one in five activities on the site is free! Get In A Lather! Phil Smith Be Gorgeous Cocolicious Coconut Water Shampoo is now just £2.50 (normally £3.50) at Sainsbury’s until 16/1/18. Great for nourishing dry locks. Snack Happy Made from wholegrain rye and containing just 23 calories each, Ryvita Rye Cakes are a great snack for busy days. Pick up a pack for just £1 (normally £1.39) at Morrisons before 16/1/18. Be Extra Sale Savvy You could save even more money during the January sales by buying discounted gift cards and vouchers from Zeek. Available brands on the website (zeek.me) include Topshop, ASOS and Argos…

Laryngitis 1 This affects the voice box. ◻ True ◻ False 2 Symptoms include swollen glands. ◻ True ◻ False 3 The flu vaccine will prevent laryngitis. ◻ True ◻ False 4 Surgery is the only way to treat it. ◻ True ◻ False 1 TRUE Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx, or voice box, and is often caused by a viral infection or damage to the larynx. 2 TRUE Laryngitis has symptoms similar to flu or tonsillitis. This may include headache, swollen glands, runny nose, aches, fatigue and pain when swallowing. 3 FALSE While the flu vaccine can reduce the risk of developing the condition, laryngitis is a common viral infection, so it’s not always possible to prevent it. 4 FALSE Most cases get better without treatment within…

‘Sampson received the death penalty a second time’ Not many people receive a death sentence more than once. Gary Lee Sampson, however, is an exception. Last February, he was sentenced to death for a second time by a US district judge. His crime? The brutal killing spree that saw him murder three innocent people in just one week. On 24 July 2001, drifter and career criminal Sampson, then 41, began his reign of terror. It started when the smartly-dressed hitchhiker was picked up by Philip McCloskey, a 69-year-old retired plumber and father of six. After claiming he only wanted to steal his car, Sampson tied up Philip with a belt, and stabbed him 24 times. His next victim, three days later, was Jonathan Rizzo, a 19-year-old college student who was…

1 Pip & Nut Chocolate, Coconut And Hazelnut Butter Smooth and nutty, this spread is made from all-natural ingredients, with no refined sugars and no palm oil. It’s a little pricey, but worth it for some guilt-free indulgence! 2 Nutoka Hazelnut Chocolate Spread Lovely and nutty, and a great budget option. Although not as luxurious as the others, it’s just what you want from this continental favourite. Perfect for spreading on toast or drizzling over pancakes. 3 Morrisons The Best Crunchy Hazelnut Chocolate Spread This version takes chocolate and hazelnut spread to the next level and adds a luxurious feel. We love the crunch of hazelnuts combined with the rich, smooth chocolate. Make it yourself… Chocolate, hazelnut and coconut butter 21p per serving Servings: 20tbsp Prep: 20min Cook:…

‘I don’t like them, but each to their own... I wouldn’t call someone out if they chose to dress their child in them. Just as I hope no-one would judge me for how I choose to dress my children.’ Natasha Watts ‘No issue here. Would people complain if the child was wearing a wig with bright, colourful hair? Or would they laugh and call them cute? It comes off. It’s not like the parents are hurting the child. My parents put me in some ridiculous outfits when I was younger!’ Bethany Short ‘I don’t like seeing tattoos on anybody, especially young children. I know they are only fake but surely it will encourage them to have real ones when they are older. It is up to their mothers, of course,…

Get Moving! The Flexible Body, £14.99, Pavilion Books, amazon.co.uk Male model Roger Frampton is on a mission to help you make the most of your body, guiding you through a series of stretches and balances to help you regain the flexibility you had as a kid. You don’t need any specialist equipment – but we’re not sure we’ll be trying the move on the cover..! Food Swaps Swap …WOTSITS CHEESE SNACKS GRAB BAG… 196CAL PER 100g For …WALKER’S OVEN BAKED SEA SALT CRISPS… 163CAL PER 100g Try this… Some Body Cocoa & Orange Natural Bar, £1.49, Superdrug As part of Superdrug’s new health range, these tasty protein bars are made from 100% natural ingredients, with 121 calories per serving. Mini Babybel Light, £1.95 for pack of…

USA: MURDERING MUM & DAD Erik and Lyle Menendez lived with their parents, Jose and Kitty, in Beverly Hills, USA. The family enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in a big house with flash cars and expensive holidays. But one night in August 1989, all that changed forever... Jose and Kitty settled down to watch a James Bond film. Around 10pm, Lyle, then 21, and Erik, 18, crept into the room and shot their dad in the back of the head. They then shot Kitty in the leg as she tried to escape. Finishing their parents off, the brothers continued to fire at them before they called the police. ‘Somebody killed my parents,’ Lyle cried down the line. In the six months after, it was reported the brothers spent $1million of their…

As I boogied, other girls on the dance floor sniggered. Ignore them , I thought. Only, then a stranger tapped me on the shoulder. ‘This sticker was on your back,’ they said. Heavy load , it read. Mortified, I ran out. I was 20, a size-18. I’d always been big, was bullied at school. ‘You’re beautiful,’ my dad Stephen would tell me. At 21, I went travelling for a year. I really enjoyed it, perhaps a bit too much... I came back a hefty size-22. Still I stuffed my face. Dinner was something like a cheesy-tuna pasta bake with bread and pesto. By April 2011, my bulk was causing me pain. I could hardly breathe. So I joined Slimming World. At my first weigh-in, I was 16st 6½lb.…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Success in any endeavour we undertake depends on the degree to which it’s an expression of who we really are. For a long time, you were dancing to the beat of others’ drums. This New Year, it’s time to write your own song. Travel will help you find your true self. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May Don’t run away from your problems this New Year, Taurus. Instead, walk away from them with your head held high in a direction that has the sun pointing at your face. A childish mood could undo all of this, however, and flirting with those you’re not interested in is a no-no. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Believe that you can have a good year…