Table of contents for 21-Jul-2022 in Pick Me Up!

Getting my little boy ready for the day, we picked out a green T-shirt and jeans. ‘Ready?’ I asked Theo in May this year. At 18 months old, he nodded back with a grin on his face. It was just before 9am and I was getting ready to drop him off with his dad. Waving goodbye to my mum Emma, who we live with, we headed out the door. It was a nice sunny morning and Theo was his usual spritely self. Holding onto my hand, we walked out the house and onto the footpath. As we headed towards the carport, Theo suddenly let go out my hand and ran back towards a drain. Turning around, I went to grab him. Only, the second he stood on the drain, I…

Nora Tollenaar-Szanto is a PSYCH-K practitioner with a master’s degree in psychology. She helps her clients overcome fears to reach their full potential. (thecelestinacode.com) Rocky start Q I met my boyfriend when we both had an affair. It caused a lot of hurt but we’re in love and not bad people. What can we do to prove we’re sorry and get people to accept us? Jen, Hampshire A First, you ask yourselves why you want their acceptance or maybe even forgiveness. Is it because you feel guilty? Have people become distant and don’t want to spend time with you anymore? Or is it something else? Think about who amongst those people really matter to you. Explain to them exactly what has happened and let them know how happy you are…

I laid back against the pillow and reached out my hands. Our baby was placed in my arms and I took in her beautiful face, tiny button nose, and eyes. I’d given birth at home and now we had a daughter. ‘She’s perfect,’ I whispered to my husband Brad, 26. We named her Riley. She was our firstborn and I couldn’t believe how lucky we were as a family. She settled her in amazingly and she was such a content little baby. Then at around two weeks old, I noticed what looked like mild eczema on her tummy. I knew newborns were very sensitive to things like washing powder or chemicals so I ensured I used special nonbiological products. Only, another week passed and her eczema marks had seemed to…

Calling all bingo fans! Do you know your ‘cup of tea’ from your ‘dancing queen’? The UK is bingo mad and the legendary game has been going since the 1700s! It’s a part of British history – and Lottoland have put together some fun trivia facts. Did you know all of them? ● Please visit: www.lottoland.co.uk 1 The UK’s biggest bingo jackpot was for a whopping £5.9 million, won by former factory worker John Orchard in 2012. At the age of 60, John bet just 30p on an online bingo site – and to his surprise became the biggest winner of all time. The first thing he bought was a £40,000 Jaguar XF! 2 The game itself has its roots all the way back to 1530’s Italy, where it developed…

HAVE YOU HEARD? The original cleaning queen, Kim Woodburn has launched her own range with Poundland. Having just celebrated her 80th birthday, Kim shot to fame in 2003 after appearing on Channel 4’s How Clean is Your House? Now, she’s on a mission to get the nation’s homes spick and span with a range of glamorous cleaning solutions and accessories. From floor cleaner, bleach and polish, this pink collection is a must for you cleaning lovers. Prices from £1, Poundland GET IN TOUCH Send us your stories and photos, including all names and ages, a daytime phone number and full address. E-mail hello@pickmeupmag.co.uk WRITE TO Pick Me Up! Media Centre, Emma-Chris Way, Abbey Wood Park, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7JU PHONE 01174400607 FACEBOOK facebook.com/pickmeupmag SEE OUR WEBSITE lifedeathprizes.com Future Publishing Limited reserves…

Deciding to stay at my dad’s for the night, I sat comfortably on his sofa. I would visit him every now and then, living just the next town over from my mum in Essex. Whilst he was finishing his shift at work, I chilled in the living room. Hearing a buzz on the coffee table, I picked up my phone. ‘Hello,’ I cheered, answering the call from my nan Lesley, 68. ‘There’s been an accident… Denny’s dead,’ she cried. ‘Pardon?’ I asked, shocked that she would even say anything like that. Only she repeated the exact same words. ‘What happened?’ I stammered, tears streaming. ‘Denny was on his bike when he went round a bend, there was a reversing car and he hit it,’ she answered. ‘He’ll be OK though,’…

This week, our tip of the week will receive some great products from Addis! Anti-moth, antimould, anti-moisture with a lifetime guarantee on the seal, this set of two Addis Seal & Store duvet vacuum bags feature a unique patented seal technology which is 100% airtight and compressed stored items by 80%. The bags are reusable and come with a lifetime guarantee. For more ways to make your life easier, visit addis.co.uk Discount display An upended wooden cutlery tray makes an ideal shelving unit for my display of olive oils and spices. Carol Fletcher, Stroud. Pop them shut When you wash a duvet cover always remember to close all the poppers so the rest of the washing doesn’t get tangled up inside. Angela Garvin, Romford. Squeaky clean – how you should…

Sitting on the sofa with my boyfriend Mark, my hand dipped into a bag of crisps as we watched telly. Then seeing my phone light up with my little sister’s name, I wiped my fingers and tapped to answer her FaceTime call. Her face was glowing, and she looked excited. ‘I’m getting married!’ she screamed, flashing her ring. ‘Oh my God!’ I cried. ‘I’m so happy for you, Lauren!’ ‘You’ll be my maid of honour, won’t you?’ she said. ‘I can’t do it without you.’ ‘Of course,’ I smiled. But deep down, I was a bit nervous. At 14st 4lbs, squeezing myself into a size 16, I was chunkier than I wanted to be. I didn’t want people to stare at the fat sister waddling down the aisle. I’d never…

POWERFUL PET Ali Moraes, 29, from Brighton and Hove, suffered in isolation, until she met her Sol-mate… Suffering in silence, leaving the house was impossible. Not just because my mental health was at an all-time low, but because Covid restrictions meant that I couldn’t. I was pretty miserable, and hoped that something or someone would be able to get me out of a dark, deep hole. Thinking back to my childhood, cats had always unlocked a real happiness inside of me. Being alone, having to stay indoors, and wanting undivided attention, I figured it was the perfect time. Searching marketplace websites, I stumbled upon a handsome chap. It really was love at first sight. So much so, I didn’t want to look at another advertisement. I had found Sol on…

A roast chicken sat in the middle of the table, surrounded by plates of steaming roast potatoes, freshly boiled carrots, Yorkshire puds and a vat of gravy, too. My family tucked in. But instead, I sank my teeth into soft bread and felt the tangy zing of cheese and onion flavouring hit my palette. You see, while my family ate a roast, I ate a cheese and onion crisp sandwich. I did this every day. Not just once. But for every single meal – including breakfast. It began when I was a toddler. My earliest memory is of my poor mum trying to get me to eat healthy foods. I’d shake my stubborn head at the meat, fruit, veg and everything else, unless it was one particular item – a…

You can see it coming – a red, screwed-up face, clenched fists…your toddler is about to unleash an almighty meltdown. Tantrums are a normal part of childhood development, but they can be a pain for parents. Follow these top tips from parenting expert Sue Atkins to stop a tantrum in its tracks. Stay calm Toddlers will quickly know what buttons to press to get a response from you. So learning to control your emotions in these difficult times is really important, as it will ward off those tantrums rather than building them up or exacerbating them. Show empathy If you feel that your child’s tantrums are borne out of frustration, you need to show empathy and use these outbursts as an opportunity to bond with your child. Offer them assistance,…

Did you know that only 35% of youngsters know what nectarines are? A new study from the nation’s favourite squash brand, Robinsons, has revealed that a scary number of children aged between six and 12 have never heard of some of the most common fruits – including plums, pears and pineapple. Now, Robinsons have launched The Big Fruit Hunt – an augmented reality game that encourages families to get outside and spend time together this summer, with the chance to win lots of fun, fruity prizes! Head into the great outdoors on a virtual treasure hunt, collecting all the fruit you find along the way. For each piece you find, you’ll be entered into a draw to win exclusive prizes – like a Robinsons water bottle, table tennis kit, frisbee,…

www.clairepetulengro.tv July 14 – 21 Catch Claire live on Facebook ARIES 21 March–20 April It’s time for you to overcome the notion that you have to be normal. It steals away your chance to be extraordinary. An emotive frame of mind this weekend, takes you down memory lane. Think twice before messaging someone you know you’ll regret letting back in your life. Remember why you closed that door, Aries. The only direction for you now, is forward not back. Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug The key to your success this week is presenting yourself with confidence. Hold your head up high and focus on the direction of your dreams. You can make the impossible possible, if you do. News of a wedding, coupling, or celebration gives you…

Lining the crane up accurately, I gazed through the glass box. ‘Now!’ my now wife Ann, 76, roared, smacking the red button in front of us. Hearing a buzz of arcade music and lights flashing, our chosen cuddly toy hovered above the rest before falling into the hole. ‘Yay!’ we cheered, grabbing the toy from the window, celebrating our win. After meeting at a club in Peterborough, me and Ann went on many dates to get to know each other a little better. Our favourite place to go would be the local amusements, finishing off the day with an ice cream and a portion of chips on the beach. As we travelled further afield, we would eye up the fluffy toys inside the claw machines – our next victim! ‘Ooo…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Carsten Hartmann, GP at The Fleet Street Clinic (fleetstreetclinic.com) Rumbly tummy Q I’m constantly hungry – just an hour after having a big breakfast, my stomach starts rumbling again. What’s wrong with me? Eva, Swansea A There are many reasons why you may be hungry, a few being that your diet is not nutrient dense, you may be pregnant, not be getting enough sleep, be dehydrated or feeling stressed. The most common reason is the lack of protein, fibre and fat in your diet. Examples of nutrient dense foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, eggs, legumes and seafood. These foods make you feel fuller for longer. Meals that are heavy on refined carbohydrates cause your blood sugar levels to spike then decrease rapidly, causing hunger. If…

Even if you’re not jetting off to an exotic desert location, you can still look the part! The Urban Safari is a trend that keeps coming back, full of lightweight linen, neutral colours, and matching accessories. You’re going to have a fierce summer… Top tip The urban safari trend influences modern fashion year on year Top tip Neutral colours and lightweight materials can keep you cool! Top tip Wearing a hat adds to the safari look, but it’s vital to protect you from the sun…

Health trends are constantly evolving. Every year, there seems to be a different superfood doing the rounds or a new supplement we should take. The wellness industry is booming and this year, the global market is valued at over $4.75 trillion. In 2020, the UK health and wellness industry was worth £23billion. It’s no secret that CBD has been one of the biggest health trends to ever exist. Well now, mushrooms are having their day. In 2019, Netflix released Fantastic Fungi, a documentary that delves into the world of mushrooms. And this summer, The UK and Ireland Mushroom Producers have launched a campaign that aims to unearth and shine a light on their nutritional benefits. And the wellness industry is certainly paying attention. Although this superfood has long been celebrated,…

The Vegetarian Butcher’s Mexi-hen Fiesta, £2.99, Tesco Meat-free doesn’t have to be bland and boring. Add some fiesta to your fajitas with these spiced vegan ‘chicken’ chunks. Delicious! Hellmann’s Blue Cheese Salad Dressing, £2, Morrisons If you love blue cheese, you need this! Give your summer salads a little something extra with this tangy dressing. Nice Boxed Wine – Sauvignon Blanc, Pale Rosé or Malbec, £21.50 each, Sainsbury’s Sometimes, a bottle of wine just isn’t enough. These handy boxes are the equivalent of three bottles (that’s 18 small glasses of vino) – great for parties! Fibre One Strawberry & Cream Doughnuts, £2.89, Tesco Wimbledon might be over, but you don’t have to give up the strawberries and cream just yet! At just 90 calories per doughnut, you can enjoy this…