Innehållsförteckning för 20-Apr-2017 från Pick Me Up!

What A Memory! I just found my old Nokia 3210. Remember having to delete texts so you could receive new ones? For more things you’ll only know if you owned a Nokia 3210, go to lifedeathprizes.com  and search ‘Nokia’. What A Film! Have you heard the rumours about Mean Girls the musical? I hope it’s true! Mean Girls is one of my favourite films. Did you know it’s been 13 years since the movie was released? That’s so fetch! What A Treat! Me and my boyfriend Darren learnt how to make fudge at the Fudge Kitchen in Windsor. Here I am giving the sticky stuff a stir. The class was so much fun and we even got to sample and…

‘No way could I risk surgery – music was my whole life’ Swaying in the spotlight, I was bathed in smoke from the dry-ice machine as the familiar beat of Tina Turner’s Simply The Best kicked in. It might’ve been the millionth time I’d stood on this stage at my local karaoke bar, but it still got me every time. I’d always loved singing. Getting a karaoke machine for my 6th birthday is one of my happiest childhood memories. Back then, I was always putting on mini pop concerts for friends and family. Even now, aged 25 and working in admin, I still sang at karaoke bars every weekend, at my happiest when belting out hits by Tina Turner, Gabrielle and M People. ‘You could turn professional,’ I’d been told…

Scrubbed Up Well Pick up a promotional pack of Persil in stores by 30 April to claim a free £5 voucher to spend in the Disney Store before 31 April. A must-buy for any mum who wants to treat their little one! Put The Kettle On… Pukka tea boxes are now just £2 (normally £2.49) in Co-op stores until 24 April. We’ll be getting our mitts on a box of Turmeric Gold, which is meant to have plenty of health benefits. Nailed It! Head to www.sensationail.co.uk before 31 May and enter code PICK-ME-UP to save 15% on all purchases over £30. Their gel polishes last ages, so end up saving you money. Clean Up This Spring Cleaning products can be pricey! But Clean n Fresh Lemon Dishwasher Tablets are just…

‘I was constantly exhausted and minor colds were intense’ I gasped at my reflection. My jaw had swollen and I looked like a hamster. ‘It’s mumps,’ said the GP. It was summer 2013, and having just finished my Management course at uni in Leeds, I wanted to celebrate. Instead, I’d contracted contagious mumps. ‘Come home,’ my mum insisted. ‘I’ll look after you.’ With no treatment, old-fashioned TLC did the trick. Months later, I moved to Birmingham to start a charity job. But I was constantly exhausted, even falling asleep at my desk! I dismissed it but, over the next few years, minor colds would become intense, leaving me bed-ridden, and I had scary ‘brain fogs’. I was once late for work after forgetting where I was during my commute. ‘Am…

‘She was confused and couldn’t recognise me’ It had been two days since my daughter Olivia, 3, started complaining of neck pain. Now, on 15 December last year, her temperature had shot up, she was vomiting, and couldn’t drink anything. The GP diagnosed flu, advised I take Olivia to hospital if she continued to refuse to drink. Arriving at A&E, Olivia was put on an IV drip and monitored overnight. Still convinced it was flu, next day staff said to come back if there were any further problems. We’d barely been home 30 minutes when things started to deteriorate. Shaking, Olivia was sodden with sweat, her eyes rolling back in her head. ‘Get the car!’ I screamed to my husband Liam, 29. Back at A&E, Olivia was admitted immediately, but…

Squidger, £4.99, www.squidger. co.uk At last you can get the very last bit out of your cosmetic or toothpaste tubes. Just slide this gadget down and give it a good squeeze. Verdict: GENIUS! Helps you to get more for your money! Colour Me Good Tom Hiddleston Colouring Book, £7.50, shop.nationaltheatre.org.uk If you can’t get enough of actor Tom then you need this in your life! Spend your evening admiring his face, while trying to stay within the lines... Verdict: BONKERS! But also very funny. Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg, £7.99, Holland & Barrett We were a little relieved to find a bag of powder inside this box and not actual eggs made from algae! It’s just like normal eggs in cakes and muffins, or…

Try this…. Robinsons Squash’d, £2 Packs of concentrated squash to make 20 drinks with 0% sugar and no more than 3 cal a serving. Six flavours including Orange and Apple & Blackcurrant. Laughing Cow Extra Light, £1.36 Eight little triangles of soft cheese with 2% fat and 20 cal. Use it instead of butter in sarnies to save calories and add flavour. Flattering Fashion Check out the new range of fitness gear in Nutmeg, Morrisons’ first women’s fashion range. This jacket, leggings, and vest are available in sizes 8-22. The range is in store now at 50 locations. Get Moving! Race For Life With over 300 events taking place from May, now’s your chance to join in a 5k or 10k run, or get your hands dirty at Pretty Muddy,…

‘I was so focused, I didn’t even stop for food, drink or the loo!’ As a hair stylist who specialises in doing wedding hair, I’ve tackled countless heads under pressure in my life. Speedy but precise, I love my job and, in 2014, I began running my own salon - Jenna McDonnell, in Newport. One night, I attended a local event where an artist was charity fundraising by drawing for 24 hours solidly. Maybe I could use my talent to help others? I thought. So, in May 2015, I devised a challenge to style 100 heads using only bobby pins to create all the various styles. Over 12 long and exhausting hours, I did it, raising almost £2,000 to split between four charities. Afterwards, I was pleased, but knew I…

‘Millie’s body suddenly slumped in her car seat’ ‘We owe Billy a big thank you for our happy ending’ Millie, get down!’ I laughed as my littl’un tried to climb on the supermarket trolley. My 2-year-old was always running around, but it was no fun in the supermarket. I only needed bread and milk, but was leaving with magazines, toys, hairbands... ‘Help me, Mummy,’ Millie would say in her squeaky voice when she wanted something. I just couldn’t say no. Thank goodness she was starting nursery next month… Even my hubby Stewart, 33, couldn’t keep up with her - and he was a fireman! Eventually, the three of us were done, and managed to set off on the 10-minute journey home, with me driving. Millie was babbling away in her…

1 Be Flexible…  If your travel plans may change, book a flexible fare. It costs more but, in most cases, you can change it without paying fees. 2 Go Online  Make changes online – you’re subject to fees if you do it on the phone or at the airport. 3 Name Change?  If you’re changing a name, you may need proof of identity. 4 Get A Refund  If your ticket is non-refundable and you need to change or cancel it, tell the airline, as in exceptional circumstances they may offer a refund. 5 Cool It!  There’s a ‘coolingoff’ time of 24 hours to cancel and get a refund. 6 Find Out More  For more info on airline charges,…

Bowel blues Q My son struggles when opening his bowels, and it’s starting to make him anxious. Is there anything I can do before we give him laxatives? Lydia, Worthing A Ensure his poo is soft, with a good diet and lots of fluid. Put him on the toilet 15-20 minutes after eating, as this is when bowels move. Put his feet on a stool raising his knees above his bottom to relax the muscles, and distract him with a storybook while he’s on the toilet. Too many vitamins Q I take vitamin D tablets, but a recent test showed my levels haven’t changed much, so I started taking double the amount. Is this safe? Carla, Thornton Heath A Too much vitamin D can result in toxicity causing nausea, increased…

‘Nieves poured petrol on carpets and set them alight’ As 16-year-old David Nieves took to the stand, he glanced at the woman he used to look up to. His mother Sandi Nieves, then 36, was on trial for the most unforgivable crime. She was accused of murdering David’s four younger sisters and attempting to kill him. Nikolet, 12, Rashel, 11, Jaqlene, 7, and Kristl, 5, had all died from smoke inhalation during a house fire. And now their own mother stood accused of starting the blaze deliberately. But why would Nieves want her own children dead? And what had pushed her to carry out such a heinous crime? It was reported that Nieves was born and raised in a dysfunctional environment. She was married twice. First to Fernando Nieves, with…

Ice Cream Cake Serves: 6 Prep Time: 20 min + freezing Cook time: 10 min • 60g mixed nuts (eg hazelnuts and almonds) • 60g Lotus Biscoff biscuits • 20g butter • 4tbsp sugar • 1tsp ground cinnamon • 4tbsp vegetable oil • 600g whipping cream • 8g vanilla sugar • 50g icing sugar • 100g ready-made meringues • 200g milk chocolate 1 Preheat oven to 180C/Gas 4. 2 Toast nuts lightly, then chop finely. Crumble biscuits, melt butter and mix with nuts, biscuits, sugar, cinnamon and oil. 3 Press the mixture firmly into base of a 20cm loose-bottomed baking tin and bake for 10 min. Leave to cool. 4 Whip cream with vanilla sugar and icing sugar, then crumble meringues and fold into cream. 5 Spoon cream into tin,…

‘Doctors gave Alice just a 60 per cent chance of survival’ ‘I’m raising money for the hospital – to say thank you’ As I finished clearing the kitchen, my body ached. I’d been under the weather all day. ‘You don’t look well at all,’ my hubby James, 39, said when I walked into the living room. ‘Maybe an early night will sort me out,’ I replied. I was 26 weeks pregnant and spending all day running after my two boys, Alfie, 7, and Tommy, 6 - so perhaps it was no surprise I was a bit run down. I headed to bed and hoped to wake up feeling more refreshed. Instead, I felt worse. My head was pounding, and I’d developed a nasty cough and fever. James played with…

‘I’d have done anything to get a normal smile’ It was the time of year I dreaded most... School-photo day. ‘Say cheese!’ the photographer said, getting ready to take a snap of me in my uniform. Embarrassed, I desperately tried to stick my bottom jaw out. But it was no use. My top teeth still protruded. My jaw hadn’t developed properly when I was born. Now I was 13 and had a really noticeable overbite. It was so bad, sometimes my jaw would dislocate when I yawned. It was painful, but I learned how to pop it back into place. Growing up, my dodgy jaw didn’t affect me too much. Chewing could be painful, but I just got on with things. But, since starting secondary school, I’d become really self-conscious.…

‘Nothing could dull the pain, and she took it out on herself ’ Waking up on the coach, I could hear my daughter Kayley crying. ‘What’s wrong?’ my sister Glenda, then 53, asked. ‘This man keeps touching me,’ Kayley sobbed, cowering from the passenger beside her. ‘What?’ I cried, incensed. It was September 2000. Glenda, me, my girls Kayley, 10, and Jayde, 9, and Glenda’s son Steven, 14, were on a coach back from the Pyramids to our ship. It was part of an Egyptian cruise. ‘How dare you?!’ Glenda raged at the man, grabbing Kayley and sitting her next to Steven. Kayley had been in the seat across the aisle from me, next to a 50-something man. He’d come across as a polite, British tourist - not a filthy…

1 Pongy Painkiller  Rubbing raw onion on a bug bite or bee sting will help ease the pain. Nancy W ood, Chard 2 Hair Remedy  Massage onion juice into your hair, leave it f or 15 minutes an d then wash out with shampoo to improve hair gro wth. Marianne Carter, Birkenhead 3 Shine Time  A mix of crushed onion and water works great for polishing metal surfaces. Sally Richar dson, Tenby 4 No Paint Fumes  Place a bowl of freshly cut onion slic es in a newly painted room to absorb the smell of paint in just a few hours. Andrea Merton, Greenock…

‘The infection can leave people deaf and disabled’ I was hot and cold and was sort of shivering all over. ‘Not today,’ I groaned. It was 22 December last year and me and my little sister Connie, 18, were on a day out in Birmingham with our nana and grandad. We’d had a pub lunch - I’d gone for the Hunter’s Chicken. Slices of bacon wrapped around a chicken breast, cooked in barbecue sauce with melted cheese on top. Yummy! Skin on fire Next, we’d planned to go to the theatre to see Treasure Island. Only, before we got there, I’d started to feel ill. Minutes later, the shivering had gone. Now I felt sick. ‘You look green,’ Nana said. ‘I feel it, too,’ I admitted. To be honest, it…

1 This is the same as a slipped disc. 2 It can cause kyphosis. 3 Spondylolisthesis is caused by a parasite. 4 Surgery is the only treatment. 1 FALSE Spondylolisthesis is where a bone in the spine slips out of position. A slipped disc is where one of the spinal discs between the vertebrae ruptures. 2 TRUE This condition can cause kyphosis, also known as an excessive curvature of the spine. Other symptoms include lower back pain, sciatica, tight hamstring muscles and neck stiffness. 3 FALSE The five main causes are a birth defect in part of the vertebra; repetitive trauma to the spine; the joints of the vertebrae becoming worn; a sudden injury to the spine; or a bone abnormality. 4 FALSE Non-surgical treatments include rest, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory…

I’ve always loved bingo, used to play with my friends at our local hall, but we all had such busy lives, we rarely found the time to go any more. So, last December, I joined Pick Me Up! Bingo. I liked the idea of being able to play my favourite game in the comfort of my own home. I’m not very computer savvy but I found the site so easy to navigate, and there were lots of games to choose from. Before long, I found Emerald Bingo. And after depositing a bit of cash, I enjoyed a few games. This is good fun, I thought, enjoying myself. I was still getting the hang of things, so I spent just £2.40 on tickets. I watched as my games played out and…

1 Morrisons The Best Apple Crumble Loaf Cake, £1.75 This dense little cake has a hidden centre of thick custard – a great alternative to dessert. 2 Asda Extra Special Apple & Blackcurrant Cake, £1.50 Light sponge studded with sweet apple, then filled with blackcurrant jam and rich buttercream. A teatime treat! 3 Tesco Finest Sticky Toffee Apple Cake, £2 Moist, apple-flavoured sponge, filled and topped with caramel sauce, buttercream and fudge. We bet you can’t eat just one slice! Make it yourself... Serves: 12 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 1 hr 15 min • 175g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing • 175g caster sugar • 675g Bramley apples, cored and sliced • 3 large eggs, beaten • 200g plain flour • 2tsp baking powder • 150g pot…

‘At first my fella didn’t mind going to bed at 9 o’clock’ ‘I’d like to start a family, but it’ll mean coming off the drugs’ One minute I was sitting in class, the next I was fighting to keep my eyes open as overwhelming tiredness hit me. I could feel my voice going slurry, my brain struggling to get any words out. ‘Late night last night, Belle?’ the teacher asked sarcastically. ‘No,’ I replied truthfully. But, for some reason, I was having to fight with all my might not to fall asleep. I brushed it off. I was only 15, fit and healthy, after all! But, no matter how early I went to bed, I’d still struggle to keep my eyes open all day. When I started GCSEs, it…

TRIED & TESTED This week: Tinted Lip Balm 1 Burt’s Bees Gloss Lip Crayon in Santorini Sunrise, £9.99, www.feelunique.com I’ve been a huge fan of Burt’s Bees for years, so couldn’t wait to try their new lip gloss crayons. The colour is a gorgeous, orange-toned coral that’ll your leave lips looking plumped and feeling nourished. 2 Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balm in Peach, £4.49, Superdrug The almost-oily texture is brilliant for extra-dry lips, especially during the summer. I really loved that it had the same signature Carmex scent and minty tingle of their other balms. 3 Max Factor X Colour Intensifying Balm in Charming Coral, £8.99, Boots This one gave the boldest colour of the bunch, but without compromising on moisture. Because it’s a balm instead of a…

‘She was baring her teeth. Then she tried to bite me’ My phone buzzed with a few texts asking where I was. It was a Friday night in September 2015 and my friends were out on the town. Can’t come out, I’ve got work tomorrow, I replied. Working at the local Nando’s was great fun, but it wouldn’t be with a hangover. So I decided to stay in with my mum, 53. My 6-year-old niece was there for a sleepover, too. ‘I think I’m going to head up to bed now,’ I yawned before long. ‘It’s not even 10pm!’ Mum scoffed. ‘Some student you are.’ But it’d been a difficult time lately. I’d just started my second year at Glasgow Caledonian University and Mum had been diagnosed with breast cancer.…

‘So, WHO is paying for this?’ my mum Sandra Pritchard, 41, smirked. I handed over my pocket money, keen to get the talking Dalek. ‘Exterminate!’ it cried. I got hooked on Doctor Who at 7, when my nan Jacqueline showed me the return series with Christopher Eccleston. I collected all the DVDs and filled my room with Daleks, the TARDIS and posters. I’ve watched every single episode. In November 2013, I met one of the Doctors, Matt Smith, at the show’s 50th anniversary celebration at ExCeL London, and he was fantastic! Mum once encouraged my hobby, but now she’s worried. My room’s full, so I’ve boxes under the stairs, in the garage, and in every room of the house - even Mum’s bedroom! ‘Don’t you touch anything,’ I instruct my…

It’s funny how families have their traditions… for my son Cole, ever since his 3rd birthday, we’ve launched a helium balloon into the sky. Me or his dad John, 52, would write our house number and postcode in permanent ink, too, just in case we’d hear back. It fuelled Cole’s imagination wondering where it’d land. Of course, it probably ended up in some bushes nearby, so we’d never heard back. Even though John and I have now split, the tradition lives on. Now Cole can write his own details, and, for his 9th birthday, last July, he did just that. Once it was long gone, we went inside and forgot all about the balloon. Until a postcard arrived for Cole on 1 October last year from Last Vegas. Weird. We…

ARIES 21 March–20 April Just how far would you go for someone close? It’s a question you’ll have to answer before this week is out. Just remember – self-respect and preservation are key to your sign. A new relationship unfolds that’s destined to be a big part of your future. Call: 09058 170 710* TAURUS 21 April–21 May It’d be worth your while to make sure you go over financial matters again and again this week, as attention to detail really will be critical. Your ruling planet Venus is making you far too trusting of those who haven’t yet proven themselves to you. Call: 09058 170 711* GEMINI 22 May–21 June Compromise is the key to getting family issues back on track. You said you’d forgiven someone, but have your…