Pick Me Up! 10-Sep-2020

I’m no stranger to fancy dress – everyone who knows me knows just how much I love to dress up. A few years ago, I bought a T-Rex inflatable costume for Halloween and have made use of it ever since. When we knew the schools would be closing due to Covid, I wore it to pick up my 10-year-old boys, Adam and Yanis. And when lockdown was enforced in the UK, myself and a few others in the community came up with an idea. Putting on my costume, I joined the likes of Spiderman, Superman and Batman to go and cheer up the town. Using our daily exercise as a way to make people smile, soon more people wanted to get involved in it. Slipping into costumes, we had the…

GOOD DEED OF THE WEEK Every 90 seconds on average, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. On 25 September, show your support by taking part in Macmillan’s Coffee Morning, an annual event dedicated to bringing people together over a cuppa to raise funds for charity. Simply sign up at www.macmillan.org.uk, then host your own coffee morning, either in your garden, office kitchen, school, or even on the street. Macmillan is also encouraging you to get involved in different ways – for example, you could run, cycle, knit or bake. Every penny raised at a coffee morning helps Macmillan to provide vital support to people with cancer, who need it now more than ever. We’re loving this! Fashion has always had a part to play when it comes to…

STAR LETTER If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

There’s nothing better than the smell of a barbeque on a hot summer’s day, and it’s made even sweeter when you get to spend time with family. ‘Sausage or burger?’ I yelled to my son Lee, 18, as he splashed around in the paddling pool, soaking up the glorious sunshine. ‘Burger please,’ he replied. ‘But can Dad do it instead? He’s better with the BBQ.’ ‘OK,’ I sighed, aware that my husband Simon, 41, was a top chef when it came to theBBQ. Simon wasn’t moving at all ‘But then you’d better make room for me in that pool!’ ‘Yes!’ Lee exclaimed, chuffed that he’d haggled his way out of a charcoaled burger. Thankfully, Simon was ready and waiting on a deck chair just metres away. My Simon was always…

EXPERT TIPS Achieving a perfect smile is something we all want. Unfortunately, professional whitening and dental services can cost a fair amount. So, this week, Dr Deepak Aulak from Arm & Hammer is here with his top tips for achieving a brighter smile from the comfort of your home. 1 Avoid food and drink that cause staining. These can include wine, smoking and black coffee. If you are to have one of these, it is important to clean well after with a baking soda toothpaste such as Arm & Hammer Charcoal White, which is powered with activated charcoal to remove surface stains. 2 At-home whitening – this can be done using a dentist prescribed system. A good system is Tooth Fairy (toothfairyapp.co.uk), which allows one to whiten their teeth using…

Listening to the doctor tell me I may never be able to have children, my heart broke. I was just 19 and as the doctor diagnosed me with polycystic ovary syndrome, the family I’d dreamed of having one day looked to be further and further away. ‘Is there anything I can do?’ I asked, totally gutted. ‘Losing weight might help,’ the doctor explained. ‘We can’t say for sure, but being a healthy weight can definitely help when it comes to trying for a baby.’ While still a teen, I hadn’t planned on having children just yet, but I knew I always wanted to be a mum. And as I stared down at my growing size 24 frame, I knew the doctor was right. If I wanted a family one day,…