Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2023 i Pick Me Up! Special

October special Enter if you dare – as things are about to get spooky here at Pick Me Up! this month… Whether you want to host your own Halloween party with items starting from as little as 99p (pg66), organise your wardrobe to prepare for a sudden chill (pg56) or see how you can celebrate the 100th anniversary of Disney this season (pg30), you’re in for an issue full of both magic and surprise. Which is something that Chloe (pg62) achieves in her jaw-dropping bakes. Using food as inspiration, she raids the cupboards in her family home, creating spooky seasonal bakes – making everyone ask one question – is that cake or fake? And being caught off guard is something that Bexx (pg54) knows all too well. After waking up…

The Sedona Spa in Ajax, Ontario, promised visitors ‘escape and relaxation’, and skilled beautician Krassimira ‘Krissy’ Pejcinovski was loved by her clients. Krissy’s warm and friendly personality made her popular with her colleagues, too. As a single mum, Krissy worked hard to support her three children – her daughter Victoria, 16, her son Roy, 14, and youngest daughter Venellia, 13, who went by the name Vana. Krissy was so proud of how well they were doing. Top student Vana was in eighth grade and Roy was a talented hockey player who was also making his grades. Then Krissy, 39, met Cory Fenn in 2017 at a local gym – and her world started to change. Cory, 29, was 10 years younger than Krissy. He was an imposing character with his…

Give your childhood imagination a chance to run wild! After all, there is nothing quite like the joy we experienced as children playing with our toys. But why should this have to stop? These two wonderful doll enthusiasts have continued their passions into adulthood – and you can do so, too… WHOLE NEW WORLD Jules Grey, 50, from Lincoln, sparked her childhood interest by a chance charity shop encounter… Browsing a local charity shop, something caught my eye. Poking out the shelves, I saw a mass of bright blonde hair. Oh my God, that looks like a Sindy doll, I thought. I hadn’t seen one in years. As a child, I’d loved Sindy – she was the girl next door, stylish and classy but still approachable. I liked her more…

INSTANT +APPOINTMENT With Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (doctorfox.co.uk) Heart flutters Q I’ve been going through a stressful time at work and have felt my heart fluttering and beating faster than usual at random points in the day. How can I make it stop? Delilah, Bolton A Anxiety is a common cause of palpitations. As your body perceives it is under threat, the fight, fright and flight system is switched on – its proper name is the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) – which ensures you are ready to flee from danger. Adrenaline levels rise, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure rises and your breathing rate speeds up. It’s very common when we feel stressed to become aware of our heart pumping. You can help calm your heart rate…

It’s time to spill your guts with all things spooky, organising your very own Halloween party with help from The Range from as little as 99p. Scare your guests, boil their blood and have fun – you’ll be thrilled to death! • Available to buy in store or online via: therange.co.uk…

Holding the pregnancy test, I just couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t be? I instantly panicked. My husband Gavin, 41, and I weren’t trying for a baby and after having two horrific pregnancies in the past, I really didn’t want to put myself through it again. Due to having polycystic ovaries, I couldn’t take hormonal contraception, but Gavin and I were always safe. Suddenly, I had flashbacks to my previous pregnancies. Whilst pregnant with my daughter Sarah, now 16, I had been incredibly sick. I was throwing up constantly throughout. Like Kate Middleton, I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum when I was eight-weeks. It lasted throughout my pregnancy and sadly came back to haunt me when I fell pregnant with my son Joshua, now 14. They were both worth it, but…

It makes me feel a little bit sick… When dating my husband I found out that he has slept with over 50 women in his younger days – although we are in a great marriage, I can’t help but feel slightly disgusted by it. It really puts me off getting intimate with him. Am I being silly? Toni, Dorchester YES Pick Me Up! reader Hannah from Cornwall says: I think you are being silly here if I am being honest. His past is in the past. You don’t need to worry about it unless it’s directly affecting you. He is married to you now – and after being with all those women he has chosen you – so you must be special. You haven’t commented on your sex life – but I…

Take this personality quiz to see if you’re a people pleaser… 1. I put other people’s needs and wants ahead of my own. a. Always – this is the story of my life. b. Occasionally – however, I’m in a pretty good place of taking care of me. c. Never – I don’t have a problem putting myself first. 2. I worry about not being liked, being rejected or alienated if I say no. a. Always b. Occasionally c. Never 3. I say yes based on feeling guilty, afraid, obliged or anxious… a. Always b. Occasionally c. Never Mostly A – People pleaser You often worry that you are going to get rejected so you put yourself in a situation where you don’t want to be. It could be worth…

Just as Madonna once said, we are living in a material world, which is the case for autumn. With stunning velvets, eye-catching metallics, luscious knits and provocative lace, there are so many textures and styles you can incorporate into your wardrobe. And now, you can be a material girl with Tu at Sainsbury’s. Who knew supermarket fashion could be so chic? • Available to shop in store and online at: tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk Remember that accessories should add something to your outfit rather than take something away – colours, details and textures will work just fine… Mid-length coats are something that everyone needs – whether you have your jeans on underneath or sheer tights poking out, you will look put together! These boots were made for walking – a small heel is…

Don’t forget to get something for the trick-or-treaters!…

WHAT CAUSES DIABETES? The amount of glucose in your blood is controlled by the hormone insulin, which is created in the pancreas. The insulin breaks down glucose so it can be absorbed by your cells and then create energy. But if you have diabetes, you cannot break the glucose down to energy. This is because the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin, or the insulin produced does not work properly. If you have type 1 diabetes, then you will have to have regular insulin injections for the rest or your life and monitor your glucose levels closely. There are no lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk of type 1 diabetes, however you can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes via healthy lifestyle. You may be more at…

RISE AND SHINE Wake up this autumn to the scent of Spicy Orange Blossom from Urtekram. This scent-sational skincare range is just what you need this October. Envelope yourself with warm spices and a blend of nourishing, skin-loving ingredients. Available to purchase from Urtekram Amazon Shop 1. Gentle Cleansing Milk, £7.79 – Remove makeup and impurities for clean, fresh and hydrated skin. With a nourishing formula, including aloe vera and natural oils, it will leave your complexion smooth and nourished. 2. Nourishing Day Cream, £8.50 – This moisturising day cream is great for normal to dry skin this autumn. With skin-loving ingredients this cream will give you long-lasting hydration. 3. Nourishing Eye Cream, £5.50 – Awaken your eyes for an illuminated look. Working to soothe and calm the area, it’s…

Grabbing my coat, I glanced round, giving a nod and smile to the regular customers. ‘See you later,’ I called out to them. As my partner Neil, 49, and I headed outside and the pub door swung shut behind us, I felt excited. I’d always worked in pubs, and back in September 2018, it was my first trial shift at our local – I’d been offered the job on the spot. Everyone had been so friendly, and I even wondered if I’d be able to take my golden Labrador Tequila along with me for shifts. She’d been brought up as a pub dog – hence the name – and she loved attention. I landed with a sickening thud Getting home, I gave Tequila a big fuss before turning my attention…

Get ready for spooky season while you shower!…

This month… KEEP YOUR HOME WARM THIS AUTUMN As the colder weather settles in, make sure your home is as nice and warm as it can be with these top eight tips from Yvonne Keal, senior product manager at Hillarys. • For more information, visit: hillarys.co.uk 1 Prevent chilly draughts Properly fitted window dressings help seal gaps around your window. This can result in energy savings and enhanced comfort! 2Layer up Layering more than one window dressing on each window decreases the chances of warm air escaping and cold air sneaking in. Plus, it looks stylish, too! 3 Open and close window dressings at the right time Keep window dressings open during the day to take advantage of the warmth from natural light. Then, make sure to close them at…

Savoury Halloween Tart INGREDIENTS: ☐ 500g sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed into 2cm cubes☐ 1 tbsp olive oil☐ 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves☐ 65g pancetta☐ 1 onion, thinly sliced☐ 2 tsps soft light brown sugar☐ 1 pack ready rolled shortcrust pastry☐ 3 eggs☐ 300ml double cream☐ 125g Cheddar, grated☐ 3 slices cheddar☐ A handful of sunflower seeds METHOD: 1. Preheat the oven to 200o C. Toss the cubed sweet potato in the oil and thyme and place on a baking tray. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, until browned and cooked through. 2. Meanwhile, fry the pancetta until golden then set aside. In the same pan fry the onion slices until softened, but not coloured, then stir through the sugar, until dissolved and starting to colour. 3. Whisk together the…

Cradling my burgeoning bump, I couldn’t wait to meet my newest arrival. My husband Rocky, 38, and I hadn’t been planning another child, but as my due date approached, we were just so excited. We already had our daughter Lexie, now 10, and I knew she was going to make an amazing big sister. On 23 September 2019, our son Rocky Jr. was born, weighing a healthy 6lb 5oz. ‘Hello, you,’ I cooed. Although Rocky Jr. had been an unexpected surprise, I was overcome with love for him. Taking him home, our family of four was truly perfect. For the first few weeks, we were in that newborn bubble. Only, when Rocky Jr. was four weeks old, he suddenly stopped taking his bottle. Taking him to the doctor, I was…

Take a moment to think back to your own childhood – what would you say was your most common phrase? Would you like to put your shoes on? NO! Eat your peas… NO! Time to go to bed… NO! – do you see a theme here? Now, flick back to your life as an adult and think about all the times you have actively said no to something – you’re struggling, right? You’re not alone in feeling this way – in fact, as adults, it seems that we often compromise things that really matter to us, saying ‘yes’ and agreeing even when we know that this isn’t the right thing to do to make us happy. Can you remember the last time you said no as an adult? Only, why…

British actress Keira Knightley gave up her Twitter account how long after it went live because she said it was like being in the school playground? To find out, solve the puzzle by filling in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number from 1 to 26. When you’ve completed the grid, the shaded squares will spell out the answer. We’ve given you four letters to start you off… Your answer____________________________________ Crack Answer: TWELVE HOURS…

Splashing around in the water, I could tell that someone was having fun. For my adventurous, headstrong little girl Isabella, two, really loved her swimming lessons – something that was a part of our normal routine. Which quickly led us to another thing that me, Isabella, my eldest Louis, four, and hubby Kyle, now 36, would all do often – pop over to my mum’s house in Sydenham, Oxfordshire, of an afternoon. Roughly a 30-minute drive away from home, my mum Sue and dad Ashley, had a really big garden, perfect for the kids to run around in as well as the stables to say hello to the horses. Which was something that me, Isabella and Louis did on the 8 May earlier on this year – with Kyle staying…

Standing with a pointy hat nestled on my head and a broomstick in my hand, it was time to enter a magical place woven with mayhem and storytelling. Something that I knew well… Having grown up with a vivid imagination, a passion for elemental creatures such as witches and fairies, I had such an interest in how a story could be transformative. And for me, whimsical myths and characters who lived on the edges and liminal spaces were the most interesting, as they would simply bring magic – they were always so much more than a person in a story. Which is why after being spotted performing in Northern Stage Ensemble’s production of Grimm Tales, over 20 years ago, I started storytelling as my job role at the National Portrait…

Whipping out my smartphone, I opened an app. Looking at the graph on the screen, I smiled. All good, I thought. My levels were stable, so I put my phone in my pocket. A type 1 diabetic, it’s vital I monitor and maintain my glucose levels. And having the freedom to check via an app on my phone was just unbelievable – it was amazing. But you see, it hasn’t always been this simple. I was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at three years old. And while I vaguely remember being diagnosed, it feels like something I have always lived with. Unlike type 2, type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition whereby my body has attacked the cells in my pancreas, so it no longer works. My mum Karen,…

1. What’s your favourite flavour cake? I love both caramel and classic vanilla! 2. What is the hardest thing about decorating? Trying to manage my time and needing to take breaks. 3. If you could work for any brand, designing a cake for them, who would it be? Lush Cosmetics, so that I could create a crazy realistic cake out of their products. 4. What’s been your favourite comment or reaction to your designs so far? When people have to guess what is cake and what is fake! 5. When eating a birthday cake, do you actually like the icing on top?! I find fondant icing to be too sweet for me. After using it for so long on my cakes, I often want to eat anything but cake.…