Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2022 i Pick Me Up! Special

Home renovations can be extremely daunting – your mind racing with plenty of interesting ideas to make your house a home. However, the bigger the idea, the harder the project – not because your DIY skills can’t achieve it, but your budget might not stretch. By approaching things with a fresh outlook, you could save yourself some time and money… Best budget hacks Knowing a thing or two about money, Norton Finance have found the most cost-effective ways to improve your home on a tight budget, saving you a whopping £15,000 in the process – what are you waiting for?! To see more visit: Nortonfinance.co.uk 1: REVITALISE YOUR BATHROOM Rather than ripping out what you already have, paying for a professional deep clean, or regrouting your entire bathroom, bring your…

SUPER EASY TIPS This month… BUDGET RENOVATIONS Thinking of new refurbishments that are wallet-friendly can be hard. Elaine Penhaul, expert and owner of Lemon and Lime Interiors, knows exactly how to tackle this task … 1. Search around Rennovate your walls by sorting through old paint and mixing a few for an amazing new feature colour. 2. Picture this Frames are a great way to create a feature wall. Collect the frames you already have and use them to create a gallery wall. You could use twigs and old pallet wood to make your own! 3. A piece of art Prints are a good way to add interest to your walls and can be created for almost no cost at all. Geometric patterns can be made easily by using masking…

Hearing a beep from outside, I looked out of the window. Seeing my boyfriend Mark Bonito, 42, pulling up outside in his van, I smiled. With five kids between us, dating was difficult. So Mark’s camper van really came in handy. He’d park up in my driveway and cook us dinner in the van. At first, when I found out he lived in it, I was dubious. Blood, vomit… not for me! But for our first date, he decked it out in fairy lights, lit scented candles and made me the most delicious meal. It was so romantic. I’d never done anything like it before I met Mark – I’d been glamping once, and even that wasn’t up my street. But I could see how passionate Mark was, and when…

Paper plate jellyfish YOU WILL NEED: HOW TO: Step 1: Arm the kids with a paper plate and some paint, and take a step back. Once they’re finished, offer a little glitter to add some seaside shimmer. If you don’t have any glitter, try adding some shiny sequins and embellishments instead. Step 2: Trim the paper plate to a ‘jellyfish’ shape and then turn the paper plate over. Cover the cut edge with PVA glue. Step 3: Cut a number of strands of ribbon to various lengths and then add the ribbon to the bottom of the paper plate. Step 4: Cut out a pair of white and black circles to create eyes and add them to the jellyfish. Finish with a…

Scrolling through Facebook, a post stopped me in my tracks. Matt has been in a serious accident and is in an induced coma, the post read. As I read through what had happened, I was shocked. I’d known Matt Hawsley from school and we’d stayed in touch over the years. It was June 2011 and Matt had been on a work trip in Ireland when he’d dived off a harbour wall. Only, the water below was just 3ft deep and he suffered a severe spinal injury after breaking his neck. I couldn’t believe it. Although I wasn’t close to Matt, I didn’t expect that kind of thing to happen to someone I know. Matt sent me to my knees Over the next few weeks and months, I followed Matt’s progress…

INSTANT + APPOINTMENT With Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy (doctorfox.co.uk) Starting to forget Q My husband is only 52, but he’s become really forgetful all of a sudden – he even forgets our kids’ names. Should I be worried?Hazel, Staines A You must be worried he could have dementia. Alzheimer’s disease – the most common form of dementia – is most often diagnosed in people aged 65 and over. But rarely, it can be diagnosed under the age of 50. Forgetting names is a common sign of dementia. However, it could be due to other conditions – like thyroid disease, infections (such as encephalitis), vitamin B12 deficiency, or as a side effect of certain medications. The first step would be to go with him to see his GP. Although it is…

All bases When it comes to makeup, most of us want products that make our lives easier. The Brazilian Glow Bronzing Palette is your one-stop-shop for your face and eyes. With a large internal mirror, four complexion shades and three eyeshadows in both creamy matte and shimmer-soaked formulas, this palette has everything you need so you can get out the door quickly! Available in Light/Medium and Medium/Dark, each colour has been designed to suit all skin tones and unlock your natural radiance. £25, available from Ciaté London NATURAL RESOURCES From Earth: Create Your Own Natural Apothecary by Charlotte Rasmussen, £18.99, Amazon Have you ever tried making your own beauty products? From Earth: Create Your Own Natural Apothecary will show you how to use natural resources to make your own products…

Applying my makeup, I was a bag of nerves. ‘He thinks you’re really fit,’ my cousin Allanis, 21, beamed. She had been telling me all about Greg Sutherland, 32. ‘You’ll like him,’ she said. It was July 2015, and we were getting ready for a party that Allanis was hosting, sipping on glasses of wine before all the guests arrived. Allanis had mentioned Greg before, after she met him through a friend. ‘He saw you on your picture on Facebook and said you’re pretty,’ she told me. That evening, when Greg walked into the party, I blushed. ‘Hi, I’m Serena,’ I shouted over the music. ‘I know,’ he winked. Greg was very attentive. He was 10 years older than me and it made him seem very mature. Almost immediately after…

What does Matthew McConaughey say helped him lose weight for his award-winning role in Dallas Buyers Club because he found he could make a portion last an hour? The answer to each clue (apart from the first) begins with the last letter of the preceding answer. The shaded squares will spell out the three-word answer. 1 Mountain road (4) 2 Wild animal attraction where visitors stay in their cars (6,4) 3 Australia bounding animal (8) 4 Children (9) 5 Large seating area for spectators (10) 6 Athletics throwing event (6) 7 Men’s bathing costume (8,6) 8 Ongoing drama on TV or radio (4,5) 9 Clapped in appreciation (9) 10 Deciphers a hidden message (7) 11 Captain, especially of a ship (7) 12 Flooring ‘rolled out’ for celebrities (3,6) 13 ‘Not…

According to a supermarket, Brits spend £5.8 million a year on what that we buy and then never use more than once? Read down the shaded squares to find the hidden answer. ACROSS 1 Industrious insect (3) 3 In favour of (3) 5 Walk slowly and without purpose (5) 7 Circuit of a track (3) 8 - - - man, sycophantic aide (3) DOWN 1 Provide with weapons (3) 2 Blue-blooded (5) 3 Settle the bill (3)  4 Travelling salesman (3) 6 - - -Vegas, Nevada gambling city (3) THIS MONTH’S PUZZLE ANSWERS Answer: APPS…

BUDE SEA POOL, CORNWALL Nestled in the rocks of Summerleaze Beach, Bude Sea Pool has provided safe sea water to swim in since the 1930’s. The pool is semi-natural – built to fit the sloping curves of the Cornish coastline. You can enjoy the fresh sea water of the Atlantic Ocean, whilst avoiding the choppy waves and strong currents the ocean also boasts. Bude Sea Pool attracts all kinds of visitors – from sunbathers looking to catch that golden, surfer tan to kayakers, triathletes and other adventurers. So, whatever you’re into, Bude Sea Pool is the perfect place to catch those last drops of sunlight. • Please visit: budeseapool.org TINSIDE LIDO, PLYMOUTH One of the most iconic of the UK’s lidos, Tinside Lido frequently dominates the top 10 lists of…

 Here is September’s must-haves for 2022! BACK TO SCHOOL Send the kids back to school in style this September with the new Mirage and La La range from Smiggle. With both ranges featuring bags, lunch boxes, bottles, stationery and pencil cases, there is truly an item for every educational need. Mirage suits older children with a more sophisticated pattern in purple and blue hues, while the La La range is perfect for tots with bright, bold colours adorned with lions, fairies and fire trucks. Smiggle’s products are unisex and designed for everyone, meaning there is bound to be a product that captures the many, many interests of your kids. With Smiggle by your side, your offspring are bound to be the coolest kids in the playground. Mirage prices start at…

RECIPES SlingsbyGin have launched the second series of the Slingsby Golf Academy, with a star studded cast offering their very own cocktail recipe. Why not have a go at making them yourself? To see more tantalising recipes visit: spiritofharrogate.co.uk How to make… A MACRAME KEYRING To see more simple crafts visit: hobbycraft.com Bohemianis back in style this September, and this charm is the perfect present for family and friends – they’ll be impressed when you say you’ve made it yourself! Stylish yet understated, this thrifty craft will make your keyring all the more chic. YOU WILL NEED: TO MAKE: 1. Cut the yarn to the following lengths – 4 x 1.5m 1 x 80cm Attach 4 x 1.5m lengths to the D ring using the Larks head…

Posing for a photo, I moved my hair from my face. ‘Say cheese!’ the photographer cheered, getting a full-blown smile. Although, there was one thing I didn’t want to do – show my teeth. I’d always taken great care of my teeth, but they were so crooked. Joking around with my friends, I didn’t want to laugh as doing so would show my teeth ‘Mine looked just like yours when I was your age, braces worked for me,’ my mum Shauna said when I told her my teeth worries. I didn’t show my teeth So, in 2017, after being on a waiting list and having several teeth removed, I had an appointment booked at my local dentist for a routine brace fitting. I didn’t feel nervous, just excitement at the…

As soon as anyone heard about the struggles of Olivia Gant, they always felt compelled to help the sweet, brave seven-year-old girl. For years, young Olivia had faced medical issues that had required her to have countless tests, take strong drugs, and even undergo life-changing surgeries. Whenever her mum, Kelly Renee Turner, posted pictures of her daughter on social media, Olivia was often in a hospital bed surrounded by her cuddly toys. She’d always give everyone a smile – despite having spent most of her childhood in hospital. It all began in 2012, when Kelly took Olivia to a hospital where they lived in Colorado. Kelly had recently moved from Texas with Olivia and her two sisters, but their dad had stayed there for work. Olivia was just two years…

Sinking back into the sofa, I closed my eyes and placed my hands on my burgeoning bump as soothing music tinkled. All of a sudden, I felt a kick. ‘Do you like the music, baby?’ I smiled contentedly. My husband Kevin, 43, and I had decided to wait to find out what we were having. But one thing was for sure – he or she loved music already. Every time a song came on, I’d feel my little one kicking away, dancing along with it. We were already parents to a little girl Niva, then three, and she couldn’t wait to meet her new sibling. I felt my heart completely shatter One day, the day before Kevin’s birthday, I was waddling to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.…

Where to stay MALMAISON BELFAST Nestled right in the heart of the city’s historic Cathedral Quarter, this luxurious boutique hotel is inspired by Belfast’s most famous ship, the Titanic – combining history with sleek, contemporary style. Enjoy a wee tipple at the hotel’s MalBar before heading out to enjoy all that Belfast has to offer, right on your doorstep – from the Titanic Quarter to the Victoria shopping centre, as well as bars and clubs. • Prices from £109 per night • Please visit: malmaison.com – search Belfast RAMADA BY WYNDHAM BELFAST Just a two-minute walk from some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, like City Hall & Albert Memorial Clock, this is the perfect base to explore.With its own in-house restaurant, SQ Bar & Grill, offering a mouth-watering…

The fear that Amy Allwine felt knowing that she, and her loved ones were in imminent danger, was all-consuming. Amy, 43, had installed an alarm at the Minnesota home she shared with husband Stephen. They’d even gone as far as purchasing a gun to protect themselves – and they needed to. Amy had been constantly looking over her shoulder ever since the FBI informed her that someone wanted her dead. The fear was terrifying, and real, and yet it seemed incredible that Amy and her family were even a target. They were esteemed members of the community. Husband Stephen, worked as an IT specialist, but he was also a respected deacon at his local church, the United Church of God. Amy had a successful dog training business located at their…

Shutting the front door behind me, I headed straight for the kitchen cupboard. Having just got home from a long day at work, my stomach roared with hunger. ‘Hmm,’ I murmured. What shall we have tonight? I lived alone and was single. After a long day working in a company that sold fireworks and ran bonkers competitions, I loved to come home and unwind, making my tea. I never planned meals. I just ate whatever I could find in the cupboards. On this particular night, I found a tin of baked beans, some crab sticks, and some prawn cocktail crisps. ‘That’ll do,’ I said. I heated the beans, unwrapped the crabsticks and put them all on my dinner plate. I poured the baked beans over them and then tipped the…