Innholdsfortegnelse for Festive 2018 i Pick Me Up! Special

Christmas is our favourite time of year and our gift to you is a magazine brimming with real-life stories and festive inspiration. Josie (pg16) was devastated when she was told her daughter Ruby had cancer. Then during Ruby’s brave fight, Josie was diagnosed, too, but their strong partnership would save them both. Some bonds are remarkable and we couldn’t be happier for Terrie (pg64) now her beloved missing cat has returned home after a decade. If you think you’re not prepared for Christmas, then spare a thought for Laura and Scott (pg54). The couple went for a walk on the beach and came home with something they really weren’t expecting – a baby! It was a huge surprise for Jane to find out she was having triplets (pg40),but even more…

Climbing into the driving seat, I pulled the door shut. Home time, I thought. It was July 2007, I’d just finished work as an optical assistant and couldn’t wait to get home to my three kids, Rhiannon, then 19, Seth, 16, and Jake, 13. I’d been divorced for a year, and was still getting used to being a single mum. Suddenly, someone rapped on my window. Startled, I looked up. A man in his 20s was staring at me, holding a rose. Maybe he needs directions to somewhere, I thought. Only, the man had something else in mind. ‘Will you go out with me?’ he said boldly. He was a complete stranger – I’d never seen him before. ‘No!’ I replied, stunned. He said he knew everything about me But…

Digging holes in the front garden, my four-year-old son Aaron was in his element. We'd moved into the house two years before, and instead of grass, the garden was a sea of pebbles. Soon enough, Aaron was out there every day, throwing pebbles of all sizes around. And, to my frustration, he'd trail them into the house, too. In August 2013, I had my second son, Charlie. With a baby and a full-time job, I didn't have time to be sweeping stones. So I bought the boys a blue trampoline to keep them busy – but after a while, they were back to digging! I considered covering the garden with grass, but with weeding, watering and mowing, that idea also sounded like a lot of work… ‘What about Astroturf?' my…

Multi-purpose storage stand, £3, Wilko Saucepans can cause clutter, so tidy them away with his stand that allows you to stack pans of different sizes on top of each other. Space saving and sanity saving, too! Colour-coded recycling bins, £6.99, Addis.co.uk Making recycling fun and recycle by material type with ease. The 40L capacity bins connect together to create the ultimate recycling hub and even come with a 10-year Addis product guarantee. Under the sink organiser, £21.99, Addis.co.uk It’s a notorious dumping ground in the kitchen, so take control with this under the sink organiser. It’s easy to put together, with no tools required and you can build around piping to maximise storage space. Collapsible drainer, £5, Wilko This clever device is the perfect solution for…

1 Gravy You can make a Christmas gravy long before the main event. Simply freeze it in a container and defrost on the day. Add the juices from your turkey to it before serving. 2 Stuffing Stuffing freezes well – you can even freeze it in an oven dish, so once it’s defrosted, you can pop it in the oven. 3 Red cabbage Red cabbage is one of those foods that improves flavour over time, so it’s worth making in advance. It keeps for a few days in the fridge and reheats brilliantly. 4 Brussels sprouts Save time by using the chef technique ‘blanching and refreshing’ – boil the sprouts, drop them in cold water, then reheat them the next day ready to serve. 5 Potatoes Peel the potatoes the…

Vegan nut roast 1 onion, sliced 50g sundried tomatoes, in oil, chopped 50g dried apricots, chopped 200g mixed nuts 1 carrot, grated 400g tinned lentils, drained 2 tbsp sesame seeds 1 tbsp garlic granules 2 tbsp mixed herbs 1 tbsp turmeric 2 tsp soy sauce Sea salt Black pepper grinder 1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C, 375°F, Gas Mark 4. 2. Heat a little of the oil from the sundried tomatoes in a pan and fry the onion for 5-10 minutes until golden. 3. Add the remaining ingredients and heat through. 4. Line a 20 x 10cm (8”x  4”) loaf tin with nonstick baking paper and spoon in the mixture, pressing down firmly with the back of the spoon. Bake for 50 minutes, allow to cool slightly before carefully inverting the…

The front door swung open and my daughter Sacha, 14, burst in, home from school. I took one glimpse at her red, puffy eyes and I could tell she’d been crying. Before I had the chance to ask her what was wrong, Sacha stormed upstairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her. Usually happy-go-lucky, it was so unlike her. I crept upstairs and knocked softly on her door. ‘Are you OK, Honey?’ I soothed. I could hear her muffled sobs, so I softly opened the door and sat down on the bed, where Sacha was sprawled, her head in her pillow. Stroking her back, I urged her to tell me what was wrong. Sacha had always been such a bubbly, popular and confident little girl, so I couldn’t understand what had…

Wealthy Hollywood director Blake Leibel, 37, helped to write a graphically violent novel in 2010 called Syndrome . Six years later, police came to the flat that he shared with his model fiancée Iana Kasian, who had given birth to their baby just weeks earlier. He barricaded himself in with Iana's body, which was completely drained of blood. He'd brutally scalped her to the bone and tortured her for eight long hours. It was a slow and painful death and he put her flesh in the rubbish. The prosecution said the graphic book Blake had written was his 'blueprint' for the murder. The final sentence in Syndrome reads: In the end we all become monsters. The author was then sentenced to…

Festive destinations If you’re looking to book a winter break to get into the festive spirit, AirHelp.com  is here to help. The travel company has revealed the top European destinations to get a bit of winter magic – Amsterdam came out on top, famed for its picturesque canals and laid-back vibe. Dublin, which transforms itself into a magical Christmas village every year, came second, closely followed by picturesque Paris, elegant Geneva, and bustling Barcelona. Get booking now! Party prep Heathrow has revealed the record-breaking amounts of festive exports that fly through the airport in the run up to Christmas. More than 143,000 tonnes of seasonal goods are expected to be flown through in the month before 25 December, including 27 tonnes of Christmas lights, 6,000 tonnes of salmon…

Children complain about being bored an average of 122 times a month - nearly 1,500 times a year - according to research by BIC as part of its Young Artist Award. When a child is bored, parents are tempted to fix the problem, with 68 percent of them using TV as a distraction. But experts claim that parents should actually be doing more to encourage boredom. ‘Boredom is often a brilliant platform for children to use their imaginations,' says child education consultant Dr Martin Stephen. He suggests distracting children with activities which stimulate their imagination, such as drawing, cooking, or playing make-believe games.…

It was the 1970’s and the anti-establishment hippie movement was still going strong in America. Many seeking a more peaceful way of living went on anti-war protests and campaigned to save the planet. Ira Einhorn was one of them. The bearded student of the University of Pennsylvania was an environmental activist. He preached about peace and the ‘freeing of the mind’ through hallucinogenic drugs. Ira was known for taking part in the first Earth Day in Philadelphia – a powerful event that raised awareness for environmental issues that still runs today. Later in life, Ira would claim that he was instrumental in founding the iconic gathering, but that wasn’t true. If anything, Ira was a hindrance. At one point he tried to steal the spotlight by going on stage to…

Starpowa Healthy Hair, Skin & Nails vitamin drink, £19.99, Holland & Barrett This drink is made with clinically proven ingredients to improve the health of your hair, skin and nails. In total, it has 20 active ingredients, including plant extracts such as aloe vera, acai berry, bamboo, grape seed, green tea, sea buckthorn and a range of amino acids. All packed into a tasty, berry flavoured drink. 24K Gold Manuka honey facial peel, £29.99, manukadoctor.com This new radiance-boosting golden facial peel lifts tired, dull skin while plumping and firming to create a youthful complexion. 24K gold is combined with purified bee venom and Manuka honey to fight fine lines and wrinkles while leaving the skin glowingly soft and radiant. This luxurious peel lifts dead skin cells leaving skin…

Grabbing a muffin and filling up a coffee cup, I rushed to the till. I was on my way to work, and had just enough time to pop into my local Sewell on the go service station for a quick breakfast. ‘Just these please,' I said, placing my items on the counter. But there, staring at me across the counter, was a beaming smile. The man at the till was a dish! I could feel my face turning red. ‘Thank you, Craig,' I said, spotting his name badge. We ended up chatting for a few minutes. I told him that I was a single mum to Lea, nine, and Layton, five, and Craig explained that he had a three-year-old son, Mason, and was also single. Later that evening, on Facebook,…

Ripping open the paper, my daughter Ruby’s eyes lit up. ‘A bike!’ she squealed. It was Christmas morning, and for months, Ruby, then eight, had begged me to get her a new bike. And she was so happy that Father Christmas had come through and sent her a bike in her favourite colour – bright pink. For the days that followed, Ruby would go cycling almost every day around our quiet village in Devon with her friends. One morning, I watched her race to the shed to fetch her bike. But when she emerged, I saw her from the kitchen window, clutching her wrist. ‘What’s wrong love?’ I called. ‘I pulled my bike out too hard and hurt my wrist,’ she said. But it wasn’t swollen, and Ruby could still…

Panting on the treadmill, I checked the gym clock and decided to push myself and do another five minutes. ‘Don’t work out too hard please,’ my boyfriend Connor, 25, kept warning me, worried about my pregnancy. But I’d checked with doctors and they’d said that keeping up with gentle exercise would be good for both me and the baby. He refused his milk and was writhing in pain I couldn’t blame him for fretting, as we’d been pregnant before, but I’d been forced to terminate at 22 weeks when we found out that our unborn child would be severely disabled. As a couple, we were closer than ever after the utter heartbreak and had been overjoyed when we found out that we had a second chance to be parents. The…

FOR HER FOR HIM FOR KIDS FOR PETS…

GET FESTIVE FOR A FIVER Looking for the perfect Christmas tree? Look no further than IKEA! Until 24 December, the home furnishings retailer will be gifting all customers a £20 voucher when they buy a £25 locally-sourced Nordman fir tree – cutting the overall cost of the festive essential to just a fiver. Use the voucher to buy your Christmas decorations, like  a wreath (£4), or adorable hedgehog baubles (£4.60 for three), and ensure your tree is stylishly decorated by attending one of the super store’s Tree Styling Tutorials. Hosted by IKEA’s expert tree stylists, customers will receive bespoke feedback and inspirational tips in these one-hour long workshops. Go to www.ikea.co.uk/treetrends for more info. FULL OF FLAVOUR Whether you love them or loath them, Walkers is bringing a controversial Christmas classic…

Every family is different, and those differences become especially apparent during the holidays. The main thing to remember is that while you may argue during the rest of the year, Christmas is all about family, so keeping the peace should be the most important thing. Who, when, where? Can you perfectly please everyone every year? Probably not. But you can work towards a balanced and fair holiday by respecting your extended family while not neglecting to create special memories with your husband. Try to compromise. Perhaps a Christmas Eve get together is important to one set of parents, while Christmas dinner is central to the other. Try to be open about what all family members want, but don't be controlled by them. Yours, mine and ours Try to balance your…

After a busy week at work, I was so looking forward to the weekend ahead. Spending time with my partner Brian and my son Mekhi, seven, was all I wanted to do for the next two days. Plonking myself in front of the telly, my mobile pinged. Your DHL package has arrived, the text message read. No one took it seriously ‘Do you mind picking this up from the post office?’ I asked Brian. ‘It’s for Mekhi.’ Poor Mekhi had been suffering with sensitive skin lately, so I’d ordered him some specialist products for him from America. But when Brian returned 15 minutes later, the parcel he was carrying under his arm didn’t look right. It was way too small for bottles of lotion. ‘Are you sure it’s the right…

Stroking my baby bump and looking at the monitor, I was over the moon to find out I was having a little girl. My husband David, 47, and I already had two children – Ashleigh, then 14, and David, five – so this little one would complete our family. Just then, the sonographer frowned at the monitor. ‘Is something wrong?’ I asked. ‘Your daughter is missing a lower leg,’ she explained. Doctors suggested that the amniotic band might have wrapped around her leg, cutting cells off before they could fully develop. David and I were devastated, of course, but seven weeks later, Neisha was born weighing 2lb 1oz, and she was perfect – limbs or no limbs. At eight months, she had her first prosthetic leg fitted, and at 18…

Studies have shown that when women walk into a cluttered room, their stress hormone levels skyrocket. So even if you don't realise it, clutter is causing anxiety. The British Heart Foundation receives unwanted quality items to help raise funds for life saving heart research. They welcome clothes and books, homeware and toys. BHF also collects unwanted furniture and electricals. Donations can be dropped into one of their 750 shops or the BHF can collect from your home for free. Visit www.bhf.org.uk/shop for more info.…

It only seems like yesterday that I had my husband Chris up in the loft, getting the bags of baby clothes down. I’d found a little suit with Tigger on it and smiled. It was the first outfit my son Tyler, then two, had worn when he was born. He was silent and his lips were blue ‘Now his little brother gets to wear it,’ I smiled, stroking my bump. ‘He’s going to be trouble like his brother,’ Chris laughed. I could already picture the two of them running around together, kicking a football and riding their bikes. In February 2007, at 10 days overdue, Rhys came into the world. At 7lb 13oz, he was an adorable bundle with dark hair. ‘Hello gorgeous,’ I whispered. We brought Rhys home in…

As I looked at the rows of white wedding dresses in the bridal shop, I felt a pang of jealousy. My friend Amanda was renewing her wedding vows and, although I was happy for her, I knew at the age of 34, I never stood a chance of walking down the aisle. I’d been with my boyfriend Chris, 53, for nearly 17 years. ‘Will you marry me?’ I had asked him once, in the leap year a few years ago. ‘Don’t be silly,’ he’d said. ‘We’re happy as we are, so why spoil it?’ I told myself he was right. After all, we were always treating each other to surprises. I’d taken him on holiday, and he’d bought me a day at the F1 motor racing. But growing up, like…

Turning up the volume on the TV with the remote, I tried to drown out the sound of my boys’ crunching. ‘Could you two munch any louder?’ I joked. The truth was, I was relieved. It was the middle of the summer holidays, and with Leyton, five, and Preston, three, already bored, I was glad they’d settled down for a bit. I’d put on Coco , their favourite film, and they were sat watching it, happily munching away on their packets of Wheat Crunchies. Adrenaline kicked in and I knew what to do Earlier that day, in the supermarket, Preston had begged me to buy the cheese and onions snacks. ‘Go on then,’ I’d said. Back home, I gave the boys one packet each, and settled on the sofa while…

THAT AWKWARDLY SHAPED PRESENT When it comes to tackling an off shaped gift, it’s best to avoid the usual neat fold and tuck technique and go for the wrap and tie method. Simply place the present in the centre of a piece of wrapping paper, and then pull up each of the corners until they meet in the middle. Tie this with a piece of ribbon and there you have it! If in doubt, and the abundance of tape is more your go to method, make things jazzy with decorative tape. ADD SOME WRAPPING MAGIC This year’s trend is all about going the extra mile to make your gifts look that little bit more special. Personalised tags are perfect, and tags shaped with the recipient’s initials are set to be…

THEY SAY: These bath salts help clear and stimulate the senses, providing soothing relief from those pesky seasonal cold and flu symptoms if you're already feeling run down. They're also great for easing muscle pains during the winter months. YOU SAY: 'Whenever I feel a cold coming on, or if I'm just feeling a bit under the weather, I soak in the bath with these salts and I feel better after just half an hour. It's a great winter boost!' Trisha, Margate WE SAY: These salts are high in minerals such as magnesium, calcium and zinc, which are absorbed by the body while soaking in your tub. A salt bath is the perfect way to detoxify the body and exfoliate the skin.…

Ever since I was a little girl, I struggled with bad skin. It looks horrible , I thought, peering into the bathroom mirror and running my fingers over the blackheads on my chin. Longing for clear skin, I’d tried loads of different creams and masks from the Montagne Jeunesse range, including the Dragon Fruit Sauna, Passion Peel Off, and Blemish Mud varieties. This time, I smacked my lips as I pulled out the Chocolate Mud sachet I’d bought from Asda for just £1. I clawed at my burning face The ingredients included cocoa and moisturising shea butter, and I couldn’t wait for it to work its magic on my skin. Scraping my hair back, I smeared the mask on my face. The instructions said to leave it on for 15…