Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 i Pick Me Up! Special

Winter is often a good time to reflect on all we have achieved. As we spend more time at home, we can take a breather before the festivities begin. It’s easy to imagine Natalie (pg15) reading one of her own stories to her little ones in bed. As she drafts new ideas for her creative children’s books, the evenings are a wonderful time for her to reflect and brainstorm – after all, it’s probably one of the few moments she gets to herself! As busy mums, ‘me time’ is a rarity, so when we have it, we should make the most of it. Whether that’s a bath, a cup of tea, or reliving the torturous bleep test. Abi (pg34), always wanted to be a firefighter like her father, but her…

Scrolling through Plenty of Fish, I recognised a potential match. Dave Squire, 26, was from the same area as me and a keen rugby player. It turned out I’d been to watch his team play when one of my friends was seeing one of his teammates. ‘I remember thinking you were alright then,’ I laughed, when we met up for our first date. We quickly became a couple and were soon inseparable. A few months into our relationship in January 2018, I moved into Dave’s house with my cat in tow. We had talked about what we both wanted in the future and knew that marriage and babies were on the cards. In February 2018, I thought I might be pregnant. But when I took a test it came back…

Performing in front of a crowd, I loved sharing my work with people. As a singer songwriter, it was remarkable standing up on stage and showing people what I could do. At the time, I always thought it was the performing I loved, but when I went on to have a family, I realised that wasn’t quite the case. I’d put my performing career to bed in order to raise my children, but I quickly realised it was the writing I missed. I wanted my kids to enjoy reading When I was younger, I’d suffered with depression and anxiety and writing had always been my escape. Putting my feelings onto paper, I’d overcome my demons. So, I knew very early on, I had to keep up with the writing. With…

All the comforting traditional flavours of a warm apple crumble, only with a nutty hazelnut twist. Enjoy sweet Pink Lady apples with a naturally great taste in every bite. For more tasty recipes, go to www.pinkladyapples.co.uk Serves 7 YOU WILL NEED: 10 Pink Lady apples 30g butter 50ml water 1tbsp plain flour 2tbsp caster sugar 1tsp cinnamon 1 lemon FOR THE TOPPING: 90g rolled oats 150g light brown demerara sugar 150g self-raising flour 100g skinned hazelnuts, roughly chopped 120g melted butter 2tsp vanilla extract TO MAKE: 1. Preheat your oven to 170°C. Peel, core and dice the apples into cubes. In a large saucepan, add the butter to melt and then put in the diced apples. 2. Add the water, flour, sugar, cinnamon and lemon. Stir well and cook on…

Seasonal Spuds have teamed up with food writer Karen Burns-Booth from Lavender & Lovage to help you prepare for the festive season. Whether they're roasted, sauteed, mashed, fried or boiled - potatoes have been a staple in British kitchens for centuries and they make some delicious dishes! Gluten-free cheesy breakfast muffins Makes 12 INGREDIENTS: 200g mashed potatoes, cooled (Maris Piper or any other good all-rounder works well) 85g melted butter, plus extra for greasing 180g smoked lardons, or streaky bacon 150g cornmeal or polenta 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 eggs, beaten 184ml pot buttermilk Salt and freshly ground black pepper 50g extra mature Cheddar cheese METHOD: 1. Heat oven to 200°C/ Fan 180°C / Gas 6 and brush a 12-hole muffin tin with some of the melted butter, or line…

Dr Riccardo Frati, of Frati Cosmetic Surgery (www. fraticosmeticsurgery.com), answers our questions on bimbofication. Do you believe the bimbo aesthetic has become more popular in recent years? People are becoming more fascinated with the idea of hyper-feminine 'extreme' beauty and at times a more sexualised appearance, which may be where this popularity has come from. What are the most common cosmetic procedures that an aspiring bimbo will have? Breast augmentations, lip and cheek fillers and buttocks augmentation. The average size for breast implants in cosmetic surgery is around 350-800cc. A bimbo would typically opt for 1,000-1,200cc. These procedures will involve extreme enhancement using very large volumes to create a hyper-feminine desirable and more extreme appearance. What are the dangers in taking cosmetic surgery too far? Multiple and extreme cosmetic surgery…

BATH CHRISTMAS MARKET The world-famous Bath Christmas Market may not be going ahead this year, but that doesn't mean Christmas has to be cancelled. Things may be a little different, but there will still be an exciting programme of events happening in the run-up to Christmas. With music, entertainment, street stalls and artisan food, you can still discover the magic of Bath this Christmas. From homeware to personalised presents, you can shop from a range of local stall holders. bathchristmasmarket.co.uk SAME BUT DIFFERENT Overseas getaways aren't exactly high on the agenda. Those winter breaks we usually love are on hold for a while. But that doesn't mean holidaying has to be. Last minute holiday booking platform, LateRooms.com has put together some of our favourite foreign destinations and given us their…

Mustering up every ounce of strength I had in my body, I slowly lifted up my right leg and placed it a step further. Then, bracing my body for worlds of pain, I slowly lifted up my left leg and placed it down, landing on the floor with an excruciating thud. At this rate, you would think I was either a toddler learning how to walk, or a 90-year-old woman trying to take a few steps. In fact, I was 14 years old, utterly heartbroken that it had taken me half an hour to walk from my bed to my dressing table on the other side of my room. It had all started two years before – when I was 12. It was 2005, and like most girls my age,…

Placing my hand on my back, I slowly walked down the stairs, wincing with each step. Finally at the bottom, I heaved myself onto the sofa, exhausted. ‘Feeling any better?’ my husband Terry, 32, asked. ‘Not really,’ I grumbled. Just a few weeks before, on 22 September 2014, I’d given birth to our little girl Madison, at Pembury Hospital. It was a traumatic 23-hour labour – Madison had been breech, and my placenta had split, which had caused a lot of bleeding. Afterwards, I was in agony. Even now, when I should have been cherishing being a new mum, I was suffering with chronic back pain, fatigue, brain fog, forgetfulness, insomnia, and terrible muscle pain. Doctors put it down to the traumatic birth, said it would pass. But it didn’t…

Around 2 million people in the UK suffer from fibromyalgia, a disorder characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, insomnia, and mood swings. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals. Actimas Celafen Muscle & Joint Rub is a natural product that works by lubricating the cell membranes and repelling inflammatory chemicals responsible for pain, stiffness and reduced mobility. Available for £9.95 from www.actimas.co.uk…

There are lots of people around the world who are convinced that one day, robots may just take over the world. And if you take a short walk around Milton Keynes, it's not hard to imagine why. With a fleet of robots strolling along the street in a straight line, it looks like something straight out of a Sci-Fi film. However, the people of Milton Keynes are more than used to seeing these car-like robots around town. Launched in 2018 by Starship Technologies, the firm originally partnered with Co-op in order to help deliver local residents their weekly groceries. The electric robots can carry up to two full grocery bags of shopping, making them perfect for those in need of some basic supplies. And it couldn't be simpler. After paying…

What are you most looking forward to this winter? The cold weather makes many of us want to curl up and hibernate inside. But instead of impatiently waiting for the warm weather to return, we all need to embrace winter and everything that comes with it. Make the most of this season by creating your own winter bucket list filled with fun activities to do by yourself or with loved ones. Here are 10 ideas to get you started... 1. Start scrapbooking With the end of 2020 quickly approaching, now is the perfect time to put together a collection of memories from the year. Whether that be lockdown bake-offs, your first trip to the pub or socially distanced birthdays – this year is definitely one to look back on. You…

Beauty babe I put my beauty sponge into an old sock, tie with a hairband and chuck into the washing machine to clear it. T. Priory, Swindon Green fingers Boiling tap water kills weeds that are in the cracks on your driveway! Lucy, Kent Works like magic Remove highlight stains with lemon juice on a cotton swab. Sandra, Leicester Second use I cleaned out my candle jars when they had finished burning and now they make great cactus pots! Fiona, Newquay Shake it up To make sure your egg's yolk is cooked all the way through, shake it when it's done. When it feels like a rock, it's fully cooked. Jemma, Wales Bedtime I group all my bedding in the pillowcase to stop them getting mixed up in the cupboard!…

In association with Cake Week, baking extraordinaire Lily Vanilli has shared her top tips for better baking so everyone can enjoy creating beautiful cakes at home! 1 Light sponge Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy for a super light sponge and delicate crumb. 2 Skip sifting When it comes to cakes, cookies or brownies, you can generally skip sifting. 3 Whisk evenly Incorporate your baking powder/ bicarbonate of soda evenly into dry ingredients before adding to a batter. 4 Be patient Ensure your oven is properly preheated to the correct temperature before baking. 5 Gentle press When your cakes are fresh from the oven, gently press the tops flat to even out any bumps. 6 Follow the guide Always follow a recipe’s…

As I heard the door close and the smoky smell hit the air, I knew it could only mean one thing. ‘Dad’s home!’ I grinned as he came in and sat down to take off his heavy shoes. His face smudged with soot, he looked exhausted. ‘Hi, love,’ he smiled, as I scurried over to hear all about his latest shift. It was the summer of 1997, and I was 10. For as long as I could remember my father Steve, then 35, had been a firefighter. I never got bored of his stories about brave rescue missions and huge flames. He was my hero. ‘Can girls be firefighters?’ I’d ask him when I visited the station. ‘Of course,’ he smiled. I tried to forget about my dreams I decided,…

Genetic risk Q My grandmother had breast cancer - does that mean I’m more likely to get it? Daisy, Liverpool A If it is only your grandmother who had breast cancer, your personal risk is usually not significantly changed. Your grandmother is a secondary relative, meaning she is one relative removed from you. Your risk is only increased if many other ‘secondary' relatives in your family have had the disease at some point in their lives. To find out if you have a family history of breast cancer, doctors usually look only at very close blood relatives - your mother, sisters and daughters. This will help them determine whether or not you may have an increased risk of the disease. Only if one or more of these relatives has had…

We are socialised to believe that sex is shameful. But the only thing shameful about sex is the outdated views. Sex is empowering, enjoyable and expressive! And after seven years of celibacy, I have finally realised just that. I am a woman, a swinger and a cam girl – and I am proud! Growing up, my family were always very prude about sex. In my teens, I was sexually assaulted and the support just wasn’t there for me. It made me feel afraid of sex and everything that it entailed. Terrified of men and their sexual power. Like many people, I was quite naïve to sex, too. The fear made me celibate for a really long time. Then finally, around two years ago, I decided to step outside of my…

Film and TV 1 How many Pirates of the Caribbean films have been released? a 4 b 5 c 6 2 In which year was the first ever Academy Awards ceremony? a 1919 b 1929 c 1939 3 Which of Disney's seven dwarves does not have a beard? a Dopey b Bashful c Doc 4 Which Oscar winning actress is the voice of Elastigirl in The Incredibles? a Holly Hunter b Emma Stone c Hilary Swank 5 What's the pub called in the ITV soap Emmerdale? a The Queen Vic b The Rovers Return c The Woolpack Inn 6 What is the name of the fictional town where Stranger Things is set? a Hawkins b Springfield c Riverside Showbiz 7 How long have Chrissy Teigen and John Legend been married?…

Rinsing off my hair, I winced in pain. As well as shampoo, flakes of dry, dead skin were washing down the drain, leaving my scalp so itchy and painful. It was 2011, and this was happening for the past few weeks. That summer, I was diagnosed with psoriasis, an immune disease that causes red, flaky patches to form on the skin. ‘Have you been under a lot of stress lately?’ my GP asked me at the appointment. ‘Stress can often make psoriasis worse.’ He was right – I had been under a lot of stress. Earlier that year, my dad Chris, 61, had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and my mum Jean, now 70, and I had taken the news pretty hard. While working as a TV production manager and…

Need a reason for a Disney movie marathon? Look no further than Walt Disney Day on 7 December - the perfect excuse to sit down and watch as many classics as you can. From Mary Poppins to Frozen; no matter how old you are, everybody has a favourite that takes them back to their childhood. Grab some popcorn and settle down in front of the telly to celebrate the man himself... Where it all began On the back of a bus in 1928, Walt Disney first sketched an outline for Mickey Mouse, the character who would go on to become the centrepiece of the Disney empire. The cartoon creature would be Disney's first big success and helped him grow the Disney Studio. From there, he went on to create countless…

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I’ll miss you, until we meet again… For now, my dad John is an eternal memory in my heart. But one day, we may be reunited in person, on earth. After death. You see, Dad was cryogenically frozen when he passed away, and I have decided to do the same when I die. In decades to come, I hope that we will wake up together and live a second lifetime… When I was younger, my parents often had groups of people over for dinner parties. ‘We’re just having drinks with friends in the kitchen,’ Dad would tell me, as he welcomed adults into the house. As the years passed, I discovered that they were actually having special meetings…

Should I go for Mr Nice? I am torn between two men. One is reliable and kind, and I know he’d treat me right. While the other has commitment issues but we have more of a spark. My friends say I should go with the nice guy, but is that the right thing to do? Tanya, Dorset YES  Pick Me Up! reader Amy, from Grimsby, says: If you’re comparing the two, then there must be something about the nice man that appeals to you. I think you’d be silly not to at least go on a few dates and see whether there is a chance to make it work. Cut all ties with the bad boy as he’s turning into a distraction. Even you know that would end in heartache.…

Gigantic fake boobs. Long blonde hair. A microscopic waist. Plumped pink lips. These are the stereotypical features of a bimbo. A slang term that historically describes a stereotypically attractive but unintelligent young woman. In recent years, the term ‘bimbo’ has taken a complete turn. The complete cost of bimbofication is around £60,000 The women undergoing ‘bimbofication’ –body modifications and lifestyle changes – are embracing the label. Leading bimbo blog, Pink Bimbo Academy, describes ‘bimbofication’ as the process of permanently transforming a female into a bimbo. The cost of ‘complete bimbofication’ is around £60,000. The end goal is a status of ultra-femininity and ‘bimbo perfection’. This is achieved via different acts of training, conditioning, converting, surgical enhancements and following lifestyle rules, rituals and standards. It seems being a bimbo now represents…

Gallery walls are a timeless trend that can instantly transform and brighten your home. As fun and expressive as they can be to create, it can sometimes be a task to know the right style and type of wall art to use to decorate your home. So, Clare Moreton, photo expert at CEWE, shares her top tips... 1. Transform your staircase One of the most interesting places to display wall art is next to your staircase. It's a great way to give house guests an instant snapshot of your interests and will make you smile every time you go upstairs! Here, it's best to develop a uniting theme. Choose something you're passionate about. That could be your holiday pics, family pictures, inspiring quotes or your much-loved pet. 2. Personalise a…

It's that time of year again! As the countdown to Christmas approaches, there's no better way to kick off the fun than with a beauty advent calendar. If chocolate isn't quite your choosing, opt for something a little more glamorous. MACMILLAN ADVENT CALENDAR With 24 products worth a whopping £137.98, this advent calendar helps you give a little back this Christmas. With £2 from every sale donated to Macmillan, this may be a splurge, but it’s one you won’t regret. Containing hero products from brands such as Liz Earle, No7, Botanics and Sleek, this calendar is the perfect way to try out some exciting new products this season. Splurge buy! Every sale of this calendar donates £2 to charity…

DNA finally linked DeAngelo’s crimes to each other... During the 1970s and 1980s, police across 11 counties in the state of California, were hunting down several prolific criminals. Collectively, they were responsible for over a hundred burglaries, a number of unsolved rape cases, and over ten murders. The offenders had been given nicknames over the years. They were dubbed the Visalia Ransacker, the East Area Rapist, the Original Night Stalker, the Creek Killer and the Diamond Knot Killer. California was in the grip of a crime spree but what the authorities didn’t know, was that they were looking for just one man – The Golden State Killer. And the culprit, Joseph DeAngelo, was one of their own. After Joseph DeAngelo graduated as a teenager, he joined the US Navy and…

Aries March 21st - April 20th I know you have been frightened and I know you have been hurt. But this month you have to be brave and be generous with your love, you will find it returned tenfold. Things are no longer the same, and for being broken, you are a stronger ram I write to. Use this festive month to live life your way and to start new traditions. You are not your past; you are not yet your future. You are your present, so be in it. Try to show patience with an older face, who is going through more emotions than you've picked up on. Taurus April 21st - May 21st What you want does not seem to be coming out the way you mean it…