Innehållsförteckning för February 2024 från Pick Me Up! Special

Attention, please! Bilou is such a needy pup. Whenever I have guests over to visit, he jumps up at them for love and attention. He’s such a character and I wouldn’t change him for the world. Melissa, Norwich Ball of fluff My auntie recently got a new kitten. She’s so small and loves adventuring outside. I’m absolutely obsessed with her. Lauren, Newport Natural views I live next to a farm and get to wake up every morning to my neighbours’ ponies grazing in the fields. I feel so lucky to live in such a lovely area. Wendy, Somerset Oh so small! Here’s my dog Grace when she was just a little pup! She was so small back then, but she’s no less cute now, eight years on. Andy, Devon…

Maki, Nigiri, spicy California rolls – we all have a favourite type of sushi. And whether you pair yours with a kick of wasabi, soy sauce or ginger – wouldn’t it be fun if you could give it a go at home? Luckily for you, Yutaka and Atsuko’s Kitchen have welcomed you to the world of sushi. We think you could be an expert in no time – but that’s just how you roll…. ● Please visit: yutaka.london…

Paris the city of love – and also a powerhouse for all things fashion. With the French style described as chic, timeless and classic, there’s a less is more attitude. George at ASDA have everything you need to achieve this look. La vie est belle……

A chain of successful restaurants, seven children and a picture perfect social media feed, Rachel and Greg Leon looked like they had the perfect marriage. Together for decades, Rachel had stood by her man as he built an empire of Mexican restaurants. Greg would work long hours at the restaurant while Rachel tended to their children. And when he got home from a long, busy day, Rachel would reheat that night’s family dinner and the couple would enjoy each other’s company. Frequently visiting friends and posting family photos together, Greg liked to present himself as a family man. And he was well respected in the South Carolina community. The Mexican immigrant had become a millionaire through his San José restaurants – where the menu offered massive margaritas and combo plates…

Pushing open the door to my daughter’s room, I already had a smile on my face. I always loved mornings with my 20-month-old daughter Margot. She’d greet me with her infectious grin, reaching out for a morning snuggle. Usually, Margot was an early riser and had me and her daddy, Ben, then 39, out of bed by 5am. Only this day, in May 2021, was different. It was past 7am. I just assumed Margot was giving her mum a much-needed lie-in. ‘Morning Margot,’ I said, moving towards her cot. But as I clamped eyes on her, shock ran through me like an electric current. There was no sunny smile, no crinkly blue eyes. Instead, she looked like a rag doll. Her arms and legs were floppy as she groaned in…

Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas – you can enjoy them all year round, so why not go all-out with a heart-shaped number for Valentine’s Day? This simple make from Hobbycraft is easy but brings a touch of l’amour to your abode. Hang it up in your home and celebrate love this month! ● For this and more, visit: hobbycraft.co.uk YOU WILL NEED: □ Natural Rattan Hearth Wreath 25cm, £7.50 □ Pink and Purple Pom Poms 100 pack, £3 □ Pink and Teal Pipe Cleaners and Poms Craft Pack 80 pieces, £3 □ Tacky Glue, £3.30 □ Light Pink Satin Ribbon, £1 HOW TO: 1. Add glue to sections of your heart wreath 2. Add pom poms a few at a time, making sure the glue has time to dry 3.…

THE POWER OF LOVE Valentine’s, Galentine’s, or maybe just a bit of you-time – this February, Lush are on-hand to help you embrace the season of love. With a whopping 34 products, you can find the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one. Here are just a few of our favourites. PERFECT POUT Let’s be honest, a lot of us are scarred by lipgloss. You may be having flashbacks to a rather sticky, gloopy youth. But makeup has come a long way since then and lipgloss is back on everyone’s lips! With non-sticky gorgeous formulas, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone this February. SAVE Makeup Gallery MUG X Oh My Glaze Lip Oil, £2.50, Poundland Give your lips a serious shine with these new oils. Infused…

Have you heard of the viral Crimpit – the toastie lover’s best friend? Now you can get one for your tortilla wraps, too – perfect for making a quick and tasty lunch, dinner or snack! Check out some of our favourite sweet and savoury combos… ● Crimpit, £19.99, visit: crimpit.com Minted Roast Lamb Calories per serving: 350-400 ☐70g flaked roast lamb☐30g Tenderstem broccoli☐30g yoghurt☐15g mint sauce☐20g rocket Miso Aubergine Calories per serving: 200-250 ☐80g cooked aubergine☐25g miso paste or soy sauce and sesame oil mix☐20g bean sprouts☐10g crushed peanuts☐15g spring onion☐15g kale☐20g spiced coconut yoghurt☐5g sesame seeds Lemon Tart Calories per serving: 200-300 ☐25g lemon curd☐5g crushed meringue☐15g crushed cookies☐ 10g raspberries…

Lifting up my baby boy to my chest, I nuzzled him into my right breast. ‘Are you hungry?’ I cooed to Lennie, then six months old When me and my hubby Colin, now 40, found out I was pregnant with Lennie back in 2018, we couldn’t wait to be a family of four. My first-born, Frankie, then two, was so excited and would always ask me when his little brother was going to arrive. So, when the day finally came and I brought Lennie home from the hospital, our family felt complete. With Colin going back to work shortly after, I soon settled into motherhood once again – from breastfeeding to changing nappies. Only, one day, watching Lennie’s happy face as I fed him, my attention got drawn away when…

In the famous words of Marvin Gaye, let your love come out, if you believe in love. Because February is the month of romance. Whether you’re smitten, falling head over heels or simply want to treat yourself, you can rely on Pick Me Up! as your source of inspiration. Host your own movie night with funfair themed snacks (pg66), add a hint of Paris to your wardrobe (pg18) or kit out your home with Valentine’s themed décor (pg34). Thinking pink is what Heidi (pg62) does, much to her hubby’s dismay. Everything from her bedsheets, sofa and even the fridge is in a glorious shade of fuchsia. Move over Barbie! And when it comes to relying on a superstar for support, Gwen (pg48) owes her life to Beyoncé. Turning to her…

Screaming at the top of my lungs, I’d caught sight of a huge spider. ‘Paul, come and get rid of this for me!’ I shouted to my hubby, now 41, not wanting to pick it up for myself. ‘No! I want to keep it,’ our daughter Charley smiled, taking it into her cupped hands. Ever since a young age, she’d always been interested in animals, even down to the smallest ant on the pavement, wanting to look after it. That’s something that her siblings Sophie, now 22, Kylah, now 20, Callum, now 19, and Jake, now 14, weren’t so keen on! But Charley didn’t mind. She even had her own catchphrase as a toddler… ‘I do it by my own,’ she’d mutter, which would melt my heart every single time.…

Yutaka and Atsuko’s Kitchen are here to answer your pressing questions on all things sushi. 1. Could you explain a little about the origins of sushi? The term sushi means vinegared or soured, and the vinegared rice is the key element of sushi. The origin of sushi goes back centuries when fermented fish was preserved in salt and rice. But rice was only used for preservation of the fish and was not eaten at the time. It was during the Edo period in 17th to 19th centuries that sushi began evolving into the recognisable form we know today as nigiri. Fresh fish, sourced from Tokyo Bay, was placed on small portions of seasoned rice with vinegar. They were then served at market stalls. 2. Why is sushi popular in the…

This month… WEDDING BELLS Planning your special day can leave you feeling more stressed than blessed. Isabel Smith, founder of the wedding consultancy Wed-Start, is here to save the day with her top tips for planning your dream wedding. ● Please visit: wed-start.co.uk 1 Go paperless Try sending out email wedding invitations instead of physical ones to cut costs. Some companies provide digital designs for you to easily personalise, or will build you a free or cheap website to track RSVPs. 2 Budget blooms Source your bouquet from the supermarket to cut costs. Then, you can follow a YouTube tutorial to learn how to tie them together so that they last all day. 3 Charity shopping Trawl through your local charity shops to find hidden décor gems like vases and tea light holders…

Country music legend Dolly Parton once said ‘I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb, and I also know…’ what? 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 it Answer: I’M NOT BLONDE…

SCRUMPTIOUS SCRAN Instagram sensation Ashleigh Mogford – AKA Cardiff.Mum – shares her budget, family friendly recipes in Thrifty Feasts. Meals that are delicious and easy! ● Cardiff.Mum’s Thrifty Feasts, £22, Waterstones ● Follow Ashleigh on Instagram: @cardiff.mum Mexican Halloumi Taco Bowls INGREDIENTS: □ Olive oil□ 4 large tortilla wraps□ 2 peppers□ 1 red onion□ ½ x 400g tin of chickpeas□ 1 tablespoon smoked paprika□ 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning□ Salt and pepper□ 225g halloumi□ 1 pack of pre-cooked Mexican rice□ 100g cherry tomatoes□ 1 x 150g tub of guacamole or 1 avocado TO SERVE: □ 4 tablespoons natural yoghurt□ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika□ 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning□ Chopped fresh coriander□ Hot sauce (optional) METHOD: 1. To make the tortilla bowls, rub oil all over the outside of a small round oven-safe…

Packing the last of the kitchen essentials into a cardboard box, it was yet another busy Friday night preparing for the move. ‘Shall we just get a curry?’ my hubby David, then 37, asked in October 2016. Ordering from our favourite Indian, we knew exactly what we were having. And planning to move house in November with our daughter Elise, then one, it was certainly all things go – working, packing, rushing around and repeat. So eating our way through a range of curries, with David ordering a chicken bhuna, we devoured our feast as usual before cracking on. Only, the very next day, it seemed the takeout wasn’t as delicious as we thought it was. ‘It must have been the curry,’ David admitted, after vomiting for what seemed like…

Fancy sampling some of The Just Love Food Company’s delicious cakes? Well, they’re available at Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons for as little as £4.50. Rest easy knowing your dietary needs have been catered for, too – delicious! ● For more information, please visit: justlovefoodcompany.com…

Putting on my headphones, I knew my song choice would define my mood for the day. Diva is a female version of a hustla… It was upbeat and powerful, just what I needed to start my morning on a positive note. But if I woke up in a grump, I had a song for that, too. I’m a trainwreck in the morning… It was the first line of Flaws and All and I think it perfectly sums up what it feels like to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. But the common denominator of both songs was Beyoncé. You see, she’d written them and I’m a huge fan. Beyoncé really has saved my life And while I loved a bit of classic rock with my husband Stuart,…

Valentine’s Day doesn’t always mean you have to dress to impress for someone else – treat yourself instead. Whether you want a cosy night in or something luxe and lacy, you can have fun in and out of the sheets… FITTING DOS AND DON’TS We all have our favourite underwear pieces, the ones we turn to time and time again. But have you got the right fit? Pour Moi have some handy tricks for you to take note of. Your boobs will thank you… ● To see more styling tricks and to shop, please visit: pourmoi.co.uk THE BAND ● Does your band dig in? It may be that you’ve got a size that is too small. If you have red marks or any bulging, then size up. ● If your…

Aries March 21st - April 20th You’ve always been a sign that goes with their gut instinct. But recently, you’ve been allowing those around you to convince you to give others more time. However, they actually deserve none of your time at all. So instead, make this the month all about standing up and claiming the life you want to live. A friendship can develop into so much more if you find the confidence to take the first step in that direction, Aries. Ring now to hear how past work contacts can improve your options in the near future. Taurus April 21st - May 21st The new moon on the 9th in Aquarius helps you see the life you really want to live. No longer will you stick around for…

Walking to my local charity shop, sporting my finest ‘80s inspired outfit, I suddenly burst out in a hot sweat before making it through the door. OMG! I’m obsessed, I thought – spotting a dreamy glass table in prime view. And as I got closer, the sweats didn’t stop, especially when I saw the bargain price tag – a tenner! Knowing that the table was originally £300 from Selfridges, it was the perfect addition to my décor at home, there was no way that I was leaving it behind. My mind was racing with plenty of ideas… Would it go next to the pink sofa? Could I put my fuchsia leopard head planter on top? I needed it to have the ultimate wow factor, especially if it was going to fit…

Love birds Here’s my daughter and her boyfriend posing for the camera when we visited them in Bristol. Don’t they make such a lovely couple? Julie, Walthamstow Sparks flying Me and my boyfriend finally went to Disneyland Paris for the first time! I got to live out my princess moment in front of the castle, too. Georgia, Gloucester At long last For their anniversary, my son surprised his girlfriend with a trip away to Manchester. He sent me this photo of them enjoying their romantic getaway. I had no idea he could be such a charmer. Michelle, Yeovil Just to say… This gorgeous bouquet is from my hubby. He picks me up a new bunch every week and has done since we met. He goes all out for Valentine’s though!…

What did British actress Emma Watson, when she was 24 years old, say she was excited about as she believed it would make her more compelling? To find out, solve the crossword then read down the letters in the shaded squares to find the five-word answer. ACROSS 11 Currency based on the 51 across (8) 12 Moist and damp (5) 13 Did as one was told (6) 14 Gas used in illuminated signs (4) 15 One of Napoleon’s titles (7) 16 Water by means of canals (8) 17 From Rome or Florence, perhaps (7) 18 Make a pained face (7) 19 Money used in Paris Berlin (4) 21 Molars (5) 23 Watered down (7) 24 Tree-flower (7) 28 Discover, unearth (4) 29 Corral (3) 30 Transfer wine into a serving…

Bad smell banisher I hate the smell of leftovers and bad odours in my fridge. To keep them away, I put a ramekin full of bicarbonate of soda inside. The bicarb cleverly absorbs all of the bad smells. Paula, Blackpool Have a vent! Add vacuuming your bathroom vents and fans to your deep cleaning list. It’s the easiest way to remove dust from those hard to reach places. Ruth, Wrexham Brick by brick It can be a nuisance when the kids get their LEGO bricks stuck together – it causes chaos in my house. To easily separate them, I use a pin as it doesn't damage the plastic. Laura, Inverness Mould magic To easily remove mould from your washing machine seal, pour white wine vinegar onto it. Then, run a…

Flagging a taxi, I was looking forward to getting home after a long day. At the end of 2019, I was living in Qatar with my husband Dan, now 44, and daughter Darcy, now 11. And as we drove through the desert, something caught my eye from the backseat. There were a couple of stray dogs running around by a nearby construction site. Through the window, I could see they had collars on, but there was no owner in sight. Craning my neck as we drove past, I was desperate to see if someone was there and responsible for them. But then I quickly realised that the poor pooches had been dumped. This is quite common in Qatar – when people didn’t want their dogs anymore, they would dump them…

International Executive Coach of the Year Jo Emerson, answers your questions. Listen to her podcast Tell Me Who You Really Are on your preferred platform now. Jo’s new email course can help you build confidence – visit jo-emerson.com. Grab her book, Flying for Beginners, on Amazon. Find Jo on Instagram: @jo_emerson_ Shall I run away with him? I’m having an affair with my sister’s hubby. It’s been going on for a few months and there is a deep connection building. How can it be wrong if I’m so happy? We are meant to be together – should we just do it? Danni, Lincoln YES Pick Me Up! reader Jackie from Bridgend says: I know this opinion isn’t going to be for everyone but go for it. The heart wants what…

From the heart Q After eating big meals, I suffer from uncomfortable heartburn. Is this something that I should be worried about? Christine, Taunton A Heartburn is caused by stomach acids passing back up into the oesophagus, which causes inflammation. Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GERD) occurs because the valve at the lower end of the oesophagus becomes incompetent. If you eat a big meal, it will stretch your stomach, putting more pressure on the already malfunctioning valve. My best advice is to eat small, regular meals and avoid fried or fatty food, fizzy drinks and alcohol. Eat high-fibre foods such as brown bread, rice and pasta, root vegetables and alkaline foods such as cauliflower, banana and nuts. Eat slowly, chew your food well and drink plenty of water. If you smoke, it’s time…

Treat yourself to something sweet…