Table of contents for 26-May-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Standing in the queue, I watched as a familiar look came over my six-year-old daughter Khloe’s face. Here it comes… I thought. We’d been in the shop for a while, and I could sense a full-on meltdown was brewing. Her face was turning red, and tears were in her eyes. But just before she let rip, a man approached us. ‘Hey, what’s all this about?’ he said with a smile on his face. He started to calm her down, and I was so grateful. We got chatting, and he told me his name was Reza. I realised I recognised him from a dating site – where I’d palmed him off. But in person he was so sweet and kind, and patient with Khloe, too – plus he was easy on…

Feeling fat Q I weigh 9st 8lb, I’m a size 8-10 and my BMI is 21 - but when I look in the mirror, all I see is a fat person staring back at me. What’s wrong with me? Alexandra, Plymouth A I’m so sorry to hear that you’re finding it so painful to look at yourself right now. It’s likely that, for whatever reason, you’re processing and reacting to something – and that in response to that, you’ve really started to think about yourself and the way you look as being part of your difficulties. You might have developed features of something called body dysmorphia. However, if this is also spreading to include food restriction, binging and/or purging, use of laxatives or heavy reliance on exercise or fitness tech,…

To mark the momentous Jubilee, there will be a number of official events taking place over the bank holiday weekend. THURSDAY 2 JUNE Kicking off proceedings will be The Queen’s Official Birthday Parade. The annual Trooping The Colour will see over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians parade down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The parade will end with the striking RAF fly-past, with the Queen and members of the Royal Family on the balcony. Beacons will be lit across the UK SATURDAY 4 JUNE The BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace will bring together some of the world’s biggest stars to celebrate the joyous occasion. Tickets are now sold out, but you can throw your own bash and watch the live concert on the BBC. SUNDAY 5 JUNE…

Milkshakes at chain restaurants can contain up to 1,200 calories per serving! But don’t worry, WW has developed some healthier versions that are just as delicious. For more inspiration visit: weightwatchers.com. Chocolate & peanut butter □ 150ml skimmed milk□ 1 medium banana (frozen)□ 2 tablespoons peanut butter powder□ 1 tablespoon WW Hazelnut Cocoa Spread□ 0% fat natural Greek yoghurt□ Tesco reduced fat dairy spray cream 1 Blend the ingredients together and add ice cubes. Blitz until it is thick and creamy. 2 Garnish with whipped cream as a topping. If the milkshake separates in the fridge, give it a quick whirl in the blender. 3 You can also freeze extras for an ice lolly! Apple & greens □ 60g spinach leaves□ 250g 0% fat Greek yoghurt□ 180ml unsweetened almond drink□…

Cottage Delight was founded in 1974, originally creating handmade butter fudge – and now the range includes jams, marmalades, curds, chutneys, table sauces and many more delectable delight Here are some of their fantastic recipes to help you celebrate the Jubilee! For more inspiration, visit: cottagedelight.co.uk Triumphant Union Jack trifle □ 1 jar Cottage Delight Jubilee British Strawberry Jam□ 135g pack raspberry jelly□ 420g sponge swiss roll□ 4 tbsp cranberry juice□ 5 00g strawberries, raspberries and blueberries□ 480ml custard□ 360ml whipped cream 1 Make your raspberry jelly in advance, according to packet instructions. Pour it into a small rectangle or square baking tin, so it’s roughly an inch high. Leave it in the fridge to set. 2 Chop your strawberries in half and then combine with raspberries and blueberries. Leave…

Catch Claire live on Facebook 7 days of hope & happiness with Claire Petulengro www.clairepetulengro.tv ARIES 21 March–20 April Focus on the good things in life this week, no matter how small. You’ll soon see they multiply if you do. Those you were giving a second chance to should be left to make the next move. Trust is something others have to build up for a sign such as you. Let them do the work needed, Aries. Ring now to hear how the new moon can help to enhance your relationships this week. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug You are more loved and supported than you know. You’ve spent far too much time working on what others want, and you put yourself second. The new moon sheds…

Spooning into my husband, I felt his hands stroking the side of my body. Pushing my hips backwards, I could feel him against me. Bringing his hands up to my boobs, he started gently caressing them. ‘Nice?’ Des, 51, whispered. ‘Perfect,’ I moaned. We were both raring to go. Only, this was as far as we’d be going for the night. In fact, this was as far as we’d gone for a while. It wasn’t that we didn’t want to have actual sex, but I just couldn’t do it. You see, like many other women, I’d reached a turning point in my life. Menopause. From the moment it began at the end of 2019, it hit me hard. Hot flushes, irritability – not to mention vaginal dryness and extreme discomfort.…

Marmite Truffle, £4.50, Sainsbury’s You either love it or hate it – but what about Marmite with a decadent twist? The new one-of-akind innovation from the classic yeasty spread features hints of sumptuous truffle, for a truly spiffing posh Marmite experience. Robinsons Fruit Creations Lemon & Raspberry, £2, Tesco Boring old orange squash is so last year! Mix up your flavours with new Fruit Creations. Just one sip of the refreshing Lemon & Raspberry squash will transport you to sunnier climes – keep this one for the grown ups! The Fragrant Tandoori King Prawn One, £7, M&S Who said salads have to be boring? This tasty hot salad – with juicy prawns, fresh mango and spiced yoghurt dressing – is perfect for something yummy in a flash. Bombay Sapphire Citron…

WORKOUT WOES Personal trainer, nutritionist and owner of Peak Health, Paul Crouch, busts some myths around fitness in this true or false quiz. 1 The best time to work out is first thing in the morning ◻ True ◻ False 2 You can’t target fat to burn from a specific part of your body ◻ True ◻ False 3 You need a low carb diet to lose weight ◻ True ◻ False 4 Breakfast is the most important meal of the day ◻ True ◻ False 5 You can have a good workout and not be sore afterwards ◻ True ◻ False 1 FALSE There is no right time to work out, as long as you’re consistent. Fit in gym or home workouts at a time that’s best for you. 2…

Eono waterproof phone pouch, £7, Amazon Festival season is upon us, but with rain flooding your tent, you may need this item. This pack of two waterproof cases will protect your phone from water, beer spills, and muddy puddles. You can also create some spectacular videos in water if you are planning on rock pooling with the kids – catching those pesky crabs on film! Inexpensive, these covers could save you from a hefty phone bill in the long run. Verdict: GENIUS! A no-brainer Easy Pee(sy) playsuit, £25, I Saw it First The queue for the portaloo is extremely long and by the time you’ve got there, you have to sit half naked on the toilet whilst you take off your all-in-one outfit – sound familiar? Well gone are of the…

Whether it was teaching pupils at the local school, or raising her own children, Amber Guichelaar had devoted her life to shaping young lives. Amber, 32, was a committed Christian who had been inspired by the church mission trips she’d completed growing up. After discovering that language could be a barrier for some underprivileged families, she became a teacher and in 2020, she was teaching English as a second language, in a middle school near her home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her patience made her a popular teacher. Amber was married to her husband Richard, 36. They’d met when she was teaching Spanish at a school where Richard’s dad was also the principal. The couple had two daughters, aged two and eight months, and Amber was pregnant again with her…

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.…

Feeling my phone buzz in my pocket, I looked at the screen. It was my husband Gunnar’s colleague. ‘You need to come now,’ came the panicked voice when I picked up, and my stomach dropped. He explained Gunnar had had a seizure. By the time I arrived, Gunnar had come round. He didn’t remember anything. I took him to hospital, where doctors sent him for tests and then took me to one side. ‘Gunnar has a lump on his head,’ the doctor explained. ‘We don’t know what it is, but we think it’s a brain tumour.’ I stared at him blankly. How could this be happening? That morning everything had been fine, and now I was being told my husband could have a tumour. ‘We think it’s best that you…

Red, white, and blue are the colours of the season. Whether you’re flying the flag of Britain at the beach or sporting your most patriotic outfit on the streets, add these staples to your summer wardrobe now… Top tip Calming and fluid, blue is a reliable colour to come back to all year long! Top tip Energetic and bold, red is one of the best colours to wear to impress! MAKE, DO AND MEND Although these traditional colours seem a little darish to pair together all in one outfit, here’s an easy way to create a truly splendid fit… Top tip When using vibrant colours as a base, match neutral accessories to tie the look together…

In June of this year, HM The Queen will officially mark 70 glorious years on the throne. As the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, it is set to be a momentous occasion. To honour her dedication to the Commonwealth and the British public, there have already been a number of events and initiatives throughout the year. But now, with the main event just weeks away, the Queen and members of the Royal Family are preparing for a bank holiday extravaganza. From Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5, the Royals, the nation and the world will reflect on Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years of service. Kicking off the weekend will be the annual Birthday Parade and Trooping the Colour as the Royal Family take to the balcony of…

Lucy Power is a conscious success coach and educator, who is trained in transactional analysis psychotherapy, too. Lucy helps people to raise their self-awareness so they can live freely, without limits. Visit: Iamlucypower.com How can I make friends? Q I’m in my 40s and I don’t have many friends. I’m so envious of other women with their circle of mates. How do I get the same? Lily, Cambridge A I’m glad you wrote to us about this. It's a common problem as we move into our 40s, with less access to easily making new friendships. Schools and universities offer opportunities for us to make friends and as our opportunities narrow, we can feel at a loss. I wonder what aspect of having a group of friends you envy, and I…

BRIGHT SIDE Are you a big fan of Bioré Skincare? Well, you may want to get your hands on their latest Clear and Bright range. Renowned for their pore-perfecting and skin-loving products, this range is no exception. With a three-step regime, it works to deeply clear your pores from daily dirt, oil and pollution to reveal a radiant complexion. Available from Superdrug. STEP 1: JELLY CLEANSER FACE WASH, £6.99 Used morning and night, this gentle but effective cleanser works to dissolve stubborn pore build-up and improve skin tone and texture. Simply massage into the skin for 60 seconds before rinsing with warm water. STEP 2: RESURFACING SCRUB EXFOLIATOR, £6.99 With dragon fruit extract, this scrub works to smooth and moisturise your complexion. By gently removing dull and rough facial skin…