Pick Me Up! 21-Jul-2016

What A… Shut Uppp! The Only Way Is Essex is my guilty pleasure. I never miss an episode. I scored 14 on The Ultimate TOWIE Quiz – see if you can beat me. Go to www.lifedeathprizes.com  and search ‘TOWIE’. 31... That’s how many handbags I’ve recently cleared out of my closet. I still have 21 left, mind. What can I say, I’m a babe who loves a bag! What A Treat! Boyfriend Darren and I love ice cream. So when a dessert restaurant opened, we couldn’t wait to try its sundaes. The Ferrero Rocher one won hands down! What A Knit! My tortoise, Murtle, is actually really fast on her feet. I nearly lost her in the garden recently, so my nan made her this fancy…

Little STAR Reporting for duty! Five-year-old Alfie – my very own little Top Gun. Jackie Northall, Dudley Our anniversary! I treasure this photo of my wife Christine and I (in specs) on our big day – that was five years ago, and we’re still tickled pink to be together! Kerry Paighton, Warrington Born to be wild It’s never too late to be a biker babe! I climbed aboard a friend’s Harley-Davidson for my 40th birthday – complete with leather jacket! Joanne Campbell, Whitehead Spotted dog My Jack Russell Dillon got into the spirit of things at our local charity colour dash! Caroline Burgess, Ipswich Look who I met! Just how delighted was I to get a pic with the gorgeous Shane Filan? I’d just bought his CD – signed, of…

‘I begged the doctors not to contact police’ When I first met Marc Harbison in May 2014, I couldn’t believe my luck. I thought he was gorgeous and we exchanged numbers. ‘Can I take you out?’ he asked. ‘I’d like that,’ I said. A true gent, Marc bought me flowers, took me out for romantic meals and to the pictures. He always made me laugh and we were both confident, sociable people. ‘I think he’s a keeper,’ I told my best mate. Besotted She wasn’t convinced. ‘There’s something about him I don’t trust,’ she said. But I was besotted. Soon Marc, 27, introduced me to his family and his mum, Val, to whom he was close, and she welcomed me into the family. After that, Marc and I barely spent…

‘Tom and I held each other as we watched Edie’s plane take off’ My daughter Edie, then 2, pressed her ear to my tummy. ‘Tummy telephone,’ she giggled, listening for the baby. I was heavily pregnant and Edie was so excited to be a big sis. We’d snuggled up together on her bed to read her favourite book - There’s A House Inside My Mummy. And Edie chanted along as I read the story to her. ‘There’s a house inside my mummy,’ I began. ‘Where my little brother grows. Or maybe it’s my little sister, no-one really knows...’ Edie giggled, gently stroking my bump. A bundle of energy, she had the cheekiest smile. My husband Tom, 33, and I doted on her. Ambulance Then, in April last year, Edie was…

Kids don’t like crusts? Instead of a knife, snip off edges with kitchen scissors! Angela Garvin, Romford If you’re toilet training your toddler, keep spare outfits with you in sealed freezer bags. That way, soiled clothes can be bagged, and you have clean ones to hand. Rachel Knight, via Facebook You can pack more into your suitcase by rolling up your clothes – it prevents creases, too. Jan Savage, Ipswich I covered my empty washing-powder pot with wrapping paper, cut a slot in the lid and now I have a fun money box! Melissa Guy, Doncaster Freeze pieces of chocolate cookies with milk, and you have delicious cubes for iced coffee! Eva Vida, Prestatyn To stop tights getting tangled up with other items in the washing machine, put them inside…

1 Chill out Instead of ice cubes, put frozen grapes in whit e wine – it keeps the wine cold without watering it down. Lauren Saunders, Crowborough 2 Supper saver Freeze leftover red wine in ice-cube trays – then pop a couple in dishes t o make them a bit tas tier! Ginnie Shearing, Brist ol 3 Storage tip Surplus red wine should be kept in a fridge – just take the bottle out an hour before to bring it to room temperature. Peter James, Woking 4 Take a breather  Red wine (and some whites) with corks should breathe for about 30 minutes after opening. But with screwtops, you can drink it im mediately! Ann Pullum, W indsor…