Innehållsförteckning för 28-Jul-2016 från Pick Me Up!

Lianne La Borde, Senior Feature Writer What A Frock Horror! I’m getting married very soon – and can’t wait – but picking my dress was a nightmare! You can read more when you go to www.lifedeathprizes.com  and search ‘wedding dress’. 26 …that's how many seconds we had to spare on my hen do at ClueQuest. We'd an hour to solve puzzles and escape from a room – and made it just in time! What A Laugh! I’ve just discovered US sitcom Arrested Development , and it’s laugh-out-loud hilarious. I just can’t believe the early series are 13 years old! What A Temptation! My talented little sis made this amazing cupcake bouquet. I’ve put in my order for the wedding! Maybe I’ll carry it down the…

‘When a doctor scanned my bump, her face fell’ ‘I set up a Facebook page and asked for dress donations’ The sonographer smiled. ‘It’s a girl,’ he confirmed. I was with my husband Nik, 31, at our 16-week scan, along with my three sons from previous relationships - Luke, 20, Daniel, 15, and Jay, 13. ‘She’s going to be spoilt rotten,’ Daniel beamed, beyond excited. Our baby girl, who we’d decided to name Lillie Grace, was a little miracle. Nik and I had conceived her through IVF. I’d been told it was unlikely I’d conceive naturally, as I’d been sterilised after my third Caesarean, with Jay. We were all so excited, we began buying things for Lillie straightaway cute dresses, pink bootees with pretty bows... ‘I got her this,’ Luke…

‘After a few slaps, a chunk of sausage flew onto the floor’ Knowing first aid is a must for me, as I’m an early years practitioner and teaching assistant, so I need to know how to help the children in my care. The last time I’d done a first-aid course was in 2012. Which is ages ago. And it felt like the time had come to do another to refresh my memory. I found a workshop on 13 January that covered choking, resuscitation and other basics, including things you might need for your own child. It was interactive and the stuff I’d learnt before came flooding back. I also learnt some new stuff. Good thing, too... Next day, I was giving my daughter Charlotte, then 17 months old, a lunch…

‘I was able to give my baby son a cuddle and some trousers!’ It was the best news me and my partner Martin, 41, had ever had. I was pregnant. We were overjoyed when our son Cormac was born on 28 January this year. I decided to get him checked for hip dysplasia as my younger sister had been born with it, meaning her hip joints didn’t fit into their sockets properly, so they’d dislocate easily. If diagnosed before 3 months, it can be successfully treated. My sister had been diagnosed at 14 months and she’d had many complications. She required surgery every year, and even needed a double hip replacement just a week after Cormac was born. After the birth, tests showed that there was nothing wrong with Cormac’s…

1 Asda Garlic Mushrooms, 300g, £2 These little button mushrooms are coated in garlic flavoured breadcrumbs. Quick and easy to cook in a few min, they’re delicious served alongside steak and chips. 2 Sainsbury’s Ready to Bake Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms, pack of two, £2 Huge mushrooms that would make a good serving for one, or a starter for two. We loved these big, ‘meaty’ treats, with their creamy cheese filling and crunchy breadcrumb topping. 3 Marks & Spencer Garlic Mushrooms, 200g, £2.10 Eight big mushrooms, filled with cream cheese and topped with breadcrumbs. Easy to oven cook, very garlicky – plenty for two or four as a starter. Make ’em yourself... 4 large Portobello mushrooms 1tbsp olive oil 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1½tbsp wholegrain Dijon mustard 200g cheese, grated 60g…

Want the perfect... RAZOR? Try one of these… Flexi: Gillette Venus Swirl The unique, roller-ball feature bends to the contours of your legs and makes shaving tricky areas – like your knees – a doddle! Multi-tasker: Wilkinson Sword Quattro for Women Bikini Pearl and Papaya This 2-in-1 tool is designed to access all areas so you’re bikini-ready! It’s both a razor and battery-operated, waterproof, styling trimmer. Bargain: Bic Soleil Scent Disposable Razors These contain lanolin and vitamin E to nourish skin, while delivering a nice, close shave. The lavender-scented handles are a lovely touch, too! Jess’Beauty Hero Pick up Bondi Sands’ Everyday Gradual Tanning Foam or Self Tanning Dark Foam with a Marie Curie logo to help them raise £50k! Pick Me Up! FOR LESS 3 for 2 on DenTek…

‘He came up behind me and tried to kiss me again’ ‘John was arrested, but denied raping me’ I was just 15 when I first met Rob through mates. Something about him was special, and the following year, we became a couple - inseparable. On my 18th birthday in May 2008, I was chatting with mates, when Rob found me in the throngs of people at my house. ‘Can I speak to Becca alone?’ he asked. I was convinced he was going to break up with me. Instead... ‘Will you marry me?’ he asked. ‘Of course!’ I said, thrilled. My family adored him and I got on brilliantly with Rob’s relatives, too. But I wasn’t sure about one of his stepbrothers, though...to me, John Hyde seemed big-headed. ‘I’m a hard…

‘That night, Paul’s proposal was on local TV’ Slipping into the driving seat, I clutched the steering wheel nervously. It was my first driving lesson, and my instructor Paul Buckland, then 34, was very patient. Eventually, on my second attempt, I passed my test! Married myself, I became good friends with Paul, who was divorced. Then, in 2011, when my husband and I separated, Paul was really understanding. ‘Come for a run,’ he offered. ‘Yeah, it’ll help clear my head,’ I agreed. We started jogging together regularly. With eight children between us, we’d loads in common. Growing closer, in December 2012, we became a couple. Paul had run the Great South Run – a 10-miler around Portsmouth and Southsea – several times. In October 2014, I joined him, although he…

DOG LOVER? You’ll Understand... 1 Fancy a lie-in? Forget it! Be prepared for a cold, wet nose thrust under the duvet. 2 Remember to never leave any food unattended. Ever! 3 Littl’uns think they can take on the world’s most muscly mutts. 4 Big dogs assume they can easily curl up on your lap for a snuggle. 5 You believe your dog understands everything you say, even if they don’t. (Though, they do really…) Left-handed facts! • Left-handers are able to see more easily when they’re under the water. • In experiments, fewer left-handers were able to turn up one or both sides of their tongue. • Fifty-seven per cent of left-handers pass their driving test first time, making them 10 per cent more likely than right-handers to pass at…

1 Shop around Check out deals at local bureau de change and online. The Post Office and M&S are also both good. 2 Don’t use a credit card Never use a credit card to buy holiday currency as it counts as a cash withdrawal and you could incur charges. Use a debit card or cash. 3 Use an overseas prepaid card You load the card with credit, then use it like a debit card. If you lose it, your cash is protected. 4 Never buy cash at the airport! They know it’s your last port of call so the exchange rates will be terrible! 5 Pay in euros or pounds? If you use your debit card while away and you’re…

Are laxatives OK? QI use laxatives to control my weight. I survive on a few biscuits over the week, but try to eat normally for my kids at the weekend. Am I damaging my body? Melanie, Coleraine A This is an eating disorder, usually due to a mental-health difficulty like anxiety or body dysmorphism. See a GP about your difficulties. Itchy ears Q My ears itch like mad. I use cotton buds, but not much comes out, not even wax. What do you think is causing it? Jess, Nottingham AYou’re causing the problem by using cotton buds in your ear canal. They push wax against the drum, causing damage, drying the canal out and reducing the amount of healthy wax needed for cleaning. Use oil for a few days, stop…

‘Manny’s family were proud of his military success’ ‘After his arrest, he likened himself to a martyr’ Ninety-two days. Nine murders. All execution-style. Most of the victims had been involved with drugs and all had been pumped full of bullets. The last two victims - Daisy Ricard, 38, and Ramon Alvero Cruz, 40 - were found in April 1986. Daisy’s body was discovered first, in a field. The next day, construction workers found Ramon’s body in the boot of a car. A fingerprint lifted from his watch led police to Manuel - or Manny - Pardo. Officers searched his property and found a credit card belonging to one of the victims, as well as a book full of newspaper clippings of the murders and references to the victims. Investigators also…

1 Create recipe cards Print out some food pictures to inspire you, like Rice Krispie cakes or home-made pizzas. Stick each one to a piece of card and write the recipe on the back. 2 Write a holiday diary Record all the cool things you’ve done, print out the pages and decorate your diary with pictures, drawings and tickets. 3 Puzzle and colour You’ll find a good selection of puzzles and colouring sheets at activityvillage.co.uk . 4 Make a photo album Print out your favourite pics and stick them into an album. 5 Enjoy origami Print out templates for making origami animals or other easy craft ideas, like a chain of paper people.…

As far as Elle’s concerned, she’s an ordinary teen “I show off my tattoo – loads of people ask me about it” Zara’s unusual tattoo means so much to this proud mum Zara Gabriel, 36, Ramsgate, Kent My daughter Eleanor thinks I’m weird. She’s probably not wrong! Elle, 14, likes pink, I like black. Elle likes One Direction, I like A Nightmare on Elm Street. But I love her to bits - which is why I’ve got a 15in high tattoo of her on my back. It shows a darkly-clad vampire - me. Carrying a beautiful angel - Elle. Elle grimaces every time she sees it. And she’s not keen on her dad Keven’s tats, either. Three big cats on his left arm - one for each of our…

Get Moving! What it takes to burn off… Latte (258 cal) = 30min jogging Hot chocolate (429 cal) = 6-mile hike Orange juice (209 cal) = 45min cycling on flat terrain Smoothie (207 cal) = 20min swimming Glass of red wine (214 cal) = 60 squats Glass of white wine (190 cal) = 30min kickboxing Gin and tonic (143 cal) = 260 sit-ups Glass milk (154 cal) = 6min planking Sources: www.musclefood.com  and www.calorieking.com Flattering Fashion With its clever figure-whittling vertical stripes, this playsuit is so much simpler – and cooler – to wear than separates when it gets too hot. Take 3...Egg Sandwiches Try these…. For Goodness Shakes Protein Coconut Water, £1.99, Asda With 10g of protein, zero fat, no added sugar and 52 cal per bottle.…

‘He even hopes to run his own restaurant one day’ ‘Can I help cook?’ asked myson Oliver, 7. I was happy to oblige my budding chef. His sister Millie, 11, and dad - my hubby David, 49 - weren’t into cooking. But Oliver’s always enjoyed joining me in the kitchen, baking cakes or preparing roast dinners. In October last year, his auntie Anita Gibson, 51, came to visit. ‘Oliver should enter this!’ she encouraged, showing me an article about a kids’ cooking comp by British pea farming group Yes Peas! Entrants under the age of 12 had to create an original recipe, using peas as a main ingredient. It was a real challenge! The prize was £500 of cookery equipment for your school, and the best recipes would be included…

‘I changed her into her final outfit –a white, frilly bikini’ ‘I won’t apologise for the way I dress my daughter’ Before I had a chance to put my newborn daughter into her car seat, the midwives swarmed around. ‘Oh, look at her! Can I take her to show the others?’ one asked. I nodded proudly. It wasn’t like my daughter Minnie-Beau was the only cute baby in there. But I was convinced she was the best-dressed. It was December 2013, and she was in a crisp, white dress, bloomers and a giant bonnet that swamped her - she’d only weighed 6lb 4oz at birth. She even had a bow in her jet-black hair. Once she’d been shown off, I tucked her into her car seat. ‘Let’s get you home,’…

CANCER 22 June–23 July Don’t let anyone treat you as a second-class citizen – stand tall and make sure you show others that you deserve the best in life! Travel is well-starred for you now and could be linked with a developing romance for many of your sign. Call: 09058 170 713* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Friends turn into lovers for some lucky Leos – but, if you’re not in it for the long haul, then you must let them know. Otherwise you could end up losing the friendship you held dear. You’ll find money matters go well on Thursday and Friday. Call: 09058 170 714* VIRGO 24 Aug–23 Sept Working as a team can help you to make that all-important crossover in life – and it can also help…

I LOOKED LIKE I’D BEEN IN A CAR CRASH 'Too stunned to cry, I just looked at him' 'Officers had found me lying naked in a mass of blood' Tucking into a plate of steaming chilli, I looked across the table at my friend Paul Ross and smiled. A mate of my brother’s since childhood, we’d recently reconnected and begun spending a lot of time together, meeting up for meals. I was grateful for the company. Back then, I’d gone through a tough time, having split from an unhappy relationship. Slowly, we grew closer. Around Christmas 2014, our friendship turned to romance. It felt right, natural. We had so much fun, going for drinks or staying in and cooking. I’d lost my mum Norma to cancer seven years before, and…

‘At just 5st, kids’ clothes hung off my bony frame’ ‘Now I’m studying Psychology at the University of Sussex’ As I pushed away the bowl of tomato pasta, my stomach grumbled. ‘Not hungry,’ I lied to my mum Coni, then 55. Just back from holiday, I’d overindulged. I’d only put on a few pounds, hardly noticeable. Just 16, I was a slim, but adamant I had to lose weight. So I began religiously counting calories. ‘I can’t eat that,’ I’d say when Mum packed me a sandwich and yogurt for school. And, every day, I’d dump my lunch in a bin. Then I’d drink diet cola and chew gum all day to keep the hunger at bay. Drastic measures Over the next few months, my weight fell. At 17, while…

Sepsis 1 Sepsis is not a life-threatening condition. 2 There is no cure for sepsis. 3 Anyone could be at risk from this illness. 4 If untreated, sepsis can develop into septic shock. 1 FALSE Sepsis sends the immune system into overdrive, causing blood supply to vital organs to decrease. Without treatment, it can lead to organ failure and possibly death. 2 FALSE If signs of sepsis are present, you’ll be referred to hospital for diagnosis and treatment. From there, you’ll have three tests and three treatments, which will happen within an hour of diagnosis. 3 TRUE Everyone has a chance of contracting sepsis from a minor infection. This can be in any part of the body. However, the most common sites leading to sepsis are the lungs, abdomen and…

Avocado And Lime Cake Serves: 10 Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 1 hr 85g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 200g caster sugar Zest and juice of 1 lime 1 ripe avocado, peeled and mashed 2 large eggs, at room temperature 1tsp vanilla extract 200g plain flour Pinch salt 1tsp each baking powder and soda 100ml buttermilk Icing: ½ ripe avocado, peeled and mashed Zest of 1 lime Juice of ½ lime 35g unsalted butter 100g icing sugar, sifted 1 Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4 and grease and line base of a 900g loaf tin. 2 Beat together butter and sugar, then beat in lime zest, juice and avocado. Add eggs one at a time, beating well, then stir in vanilla extract. 3 Sift together flour, salt,…

“Next morning, I couldn’t wait to tell Jeff the news” Who Knew I’d Scoop A Whopper Win?! Julie-Anne treated home, hubby and kids! Julie-Anne Payne, 43, Deal, Kent I’ve always loved a game of bingo so, when I was reading my fave magazine Pick Me Up! and saw a story about a woman winning, I joined. The woman in the story had scooped the jackpot and spent her win on a luxury holiday. ‘If she can win, so can I!’ I said to my husband Jeff, 47. As I settled down to play, I was amazed at how many fun games there were to choose from - bingo, slots, scratchcards... Spoilt for choice, I had a go in a few bingo rooms. I soon found myself enjoying Sapphire - a…

Carrot Sun Tan Accelerator, £14.99, Superdrug Want a great summer glow? It might sound strange, but this is made from carrots, which help you get a deeper tan – and fast. It doesn’t contain any SPF, but can be layered over sun cream without stopping it from working. Verdict: GENIUS! A little odd, but fantastic! Joe & Seph’s Marmite Popcorn, £6.99, www.firebox.com You either love it or hate it – but it’s good news for Marmite lovers, as you can now enjoy Marmite on popcorn! The caramel popcorn has been glazed with Marmite for a unique taste that might even convert some haters… Verdict: BONKERS! but we love it! Beard Bib Hair Clippings Catcher, £19.99, www.firebox.com If you’re sick of your bloke getting his hair all…

What Does Your Handwriting Reveal About You? Small: studious, meticulous or shy. Large: outspoken and people-orientated. Left-slant: inward-looking. Right-slant: open-minded and sociable. Upright: practical and pragmatic. Tee Hee… Rude Food! Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome? These’ll be familiar, then! 1 Mid e-mail rant about the boss, you accidentally send the e-mail – to them! 2 You  offer your bus seat to a lady, thinking she’s pregnant… She’s just large. 3 You ’re just drunkenly stalking an ex or new partner on Facebook, when you carelessly click ‘like’ on a picture of theirs! 4 The bloke at the party you’ve called Steve all evening finally tells you his name’s Dave… Co-stars Who Hated Each Other*   (*if the rumours are true!)…

I’m a nursing assistant at The Grove Veterinary Hospital in Fakenham, and, for 10 years, I’ve been renting a room with the Swanscott family, who run a farm - The Paddocks. Mad about animals, I help out wherever I can. And, in March, I assisted delivering nine lambs. The Swanscotts’ son Harry, 10, helped name them after various DC Comics characters. But then we noticed the mum wasn’t feeding one lamb, Flash. So we brought him indoors to be bottle-fed. Two days on, I spotted a squint and clouding in Flash’s right eye. The ophthalmologist at The Grove examined him and gave her diagnosis. ‘It’s uveitis,’ she confirmed - a painful infection that causes ultrasensitivity to bright light. Flash had antibiotics and eye drops. But being back out in the…

‘While I believe encouraging vanity in a child is wrong, I think that as long as Jas isn’t doing anything too extreme with Minnie-Beau – like eyebrow waxing, for example – it’s fine.’ Kelly Imrie, 33, East Ayrshire ‘Minnie-Beau may find it fun, but I worry that it’s Jas’ personal dream she’s living through her girl. Maybe the money could be better spent on her child’s future.’ Jayne Flintoff, 52, West Yorkshire ‘Kids need love, not material goods – and life isn’t all about how you look. Jas’ child has no chance to refuse to take part in the pageants. It’s irresponsible.’ Sabrina Fancy, 41, South London…