Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2020 i Pick Me Up! Special

It’s been quite a rollercoaster of a year so far, but there’s always something to look forward to. This month, we’ve got all you need to get ready for Halloween! Trick or treating may not be the same as it once was, but we’ve got the ultimate spooky guide on page 12 to prove that staying home can be just as fun. Learn to paint pumpkins and impress your guests, and head over to page 66 for some frightfully delightful buys. This month, we’re all about giving back to others. Moniqe (pg34) faced every mum’s worst nightmare when her little boy stopped breathing. She never expected the reason behind it, but today, she and her husband are on a mission to save children’s lives by teaching life-saving skills to others.…

When my daughter Lacey caught chickenpox, I didn't worry too much. Like most parents, I was concerned with her scratching, but knew that it was good to come and go at a young age. ‘It's so itching!' Lacey cried. ‘We don't want it to scar!' I reminded her, doing everything I could to distract her. Before long, the spots had faded and Lacey was back to her normal, bubbly little self. I thought it was innocent Or, at least I thought… A few months later, I got a call from Lacey's school. She had a high temperature and needed to come home. I gave her medicine and tucked her into bed. Then during the night, I was woken by a strange noise. Running into Lacey's room, I found her fitting…

Spending a significant amount of time at home has inspired most of us to make a change. But with so many interior trends and inspiration online, it’s almost impossible to decide what change is needed! To help you make the right choice, experts at PsychicWorld.com sought to find out what design style would suit you most based on your Zodiac sign. Do you agree with your sign’s design? Aries – Contemporary Fiery Aries tend to be impulsive, so they might change things around their house often! The fluidity of this style allows them to combine modern items with other trends, making it their perfect environment. Shades of black, beige and white are fundamental to this style, alongside the use of different materials, offering the house a sleek and fresh…

Is it time for tough love? I was so ashamed when I found out my 21-year-old son had got into trouble with the police for stealing. He’s been given community service and my friends say that I should throw him out because he doesn’t seem remorseful. But he’s my son and I can’t just abandon him. Is letting him stay the wrong thing to do? Tess, Leeds YES  Pick Me Up! reader Gillian, Norfolk, says: I think the fact he doesn’t seem remorseful is a worrying sign. Has he really taken responsibility for what he’s done if he isn’t sorry or trying to make amends? I think it’s time you give him some more boundaries. He’s old enough now to get his own place and realise that someone won’t always…

Opening the front door to my new house, I carried in my newborn son George, and showed him around for the very first time. ‘Welcome home!’ I beamed proudly, gently pushing open the door to his nursery. In September 2015, I was 17 years old and had just given birth to my little boy. After placing him down in his Moses basket, I started unpacking a few boxes and noticed how exhausted I felt. Luckily, my mum Jane, 48, was on hand to help. ‘Go have a nap,’ she insisted, ushering me to the bedroom. ‘Can you watch George?’ I asked, as I let out a yawn. I was lucky to have her around and she was always up for babysitting – she loved spending time with George. Over the…

NO: Ruth Kudzi is a business mentor, mindset coach, and bestselling author. I have recently made the decision to stop sharing photos online of my children. My Facebook profile was cloned earlier this month and they took photos of my kids to set up a Bitcoin profile. It made me consider anything more sinister. I don’t want to be responsible for my kids having a social media profile that they didn’t agree to or to put them in any danger. As much as I would love to say that we live in a world where bad  things don’t happen, it isn’t true. For me now, protecting my kids and their identity is important. YES: Mumfluencer Lauren Wilden @growingoutandup argues. I think long as I’m respectful and don’t overshare too much…

At just six-years-old, my wonderful daughter Isabelle, now 13, became dangerously unwell. Weighing just 3st, she was a bag of bones. With constant stomach aches and fatigue, we had no idea what was wrong with her. In and out of the doctors, they couldn’t find a diagnosis and kept sending her home. After four years of being misdiagnosed, I demanded a referral to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where she was there diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. It was devastating and if we would have waited any longer, there was a chance we might have lost her. Thankfully, now on the right medication, Isabelle went into remission, but she would live with this for the rest of her life. That means a lifetime of doctor and hospital appointments, constantly having to check she…

Chucking my last few cigarettes in the bin, I smiled to myself. ‘Well, that’s the last of that,’ I said proudly. While I didn’t smoke that much – only socially – it was a habit I finally wanted to kick. It was May 2017, and after many years of trying, I was finally ready to live a healthier life. Back in 1977, my dad Bill had died of a heart attack aged 40, and it was a huge wake up call for my family. Now in my 40s, I was keeping a close eye on my own cholesterol. Not that there was anything to worry about – mine was always low. Even when I’d been pregnant with my two kids –Mirabelle, now 14, and Truman, 10 – I’d never had…

NEW FOOD TRENDS Bigseventravel.com took a look at industry reports and spoke to experts to share the fun food trends of 2020. Glittery drinks, brownie hummus and boozy fermented tea – how many of these new trends have you tried? Glitter wine: Make your beverage Instagrammable with glitter wine! Bars are also seeing a rise in fizzers that make your drink fizz like a bath bomb. Boozy kombucha: Kombucha and other fermented teas have been slowly rising in popularity. Now, we're noticing ‘hard kombucha' popping up with an alcoholic twist. Dessert hummus: Chickpeas have got a sweet makeover! Flavours include snickerdoodle, brownie batter and even peanut butter cookie dough. Souffle pancakes: Thick, fluffy pancakes rose to fame years ago, but these Japanese souffle pancakes are on another level. Expect to…

Stephen Allwine was an IT specialist, but he was also a respected deacon at the United Church of God in Minnesota. In 2016, his wife Amy, 42, was told by the FBI that someone had attempted to hire a hitman to kill her through the dark web. The couple installed an alarm and bought a gun. Then in the November, Amy was found dead at home with a bullet in her head. Stephen said it was suicide, but in reality, he was the killer. Stephen had been cheating on Amy with at least three women, and after his attempt to hire a hitman had failed, he'd drugged and killed her for the life insurance. He was sentenced to life behind bars.…

Aries March 21st - April 20th You seem to be confused as to what you've been told and what your instincts are telling you. Mars, your ruling planet, is on hand to ensure you don't get played for a fool. This is going to cast you in a harsher light than others, so tone it down for those you know are playing a more sensitive role. Friends pull together to help you achieve something this month, which is a real milestone in your life. You begin to realise you are not alone, but you had to ask for help for others to understand. Let the good times begin. Life is waiting for you, my friend. Taurus April 21st - May 21st Saturn is still teaching you much about yourself. I…

Foxes rule the roost where we live in Basildon, Essex. It's never a surprise to see orange fur darting from garden to garden. ‘They strut around like they own the place!' my husband Russell, 45, jokes all the time. And there's not much that we can do about it! It's their home, too. Tenants we won't forget! One minute we'll be relaxing in the back garden with the kids, and the next minute, the foxes will be joining in on the fun. ‘Hello Mr Fox,' my six-year-old Olive calls, greeting them. Usually, it's rare to find an afternoon where our girls, Olive and Annie, 10, aren't interrupted by the creatures. We don't tend to mind – they're our neighbours after all! Then one morning earlier this year, they decided to…

Paint your pumpkins Love Halloween but hate the messy pumpkin bit? Well, fear not because this year's spooky style is all about paint. Join in on the latest craze and learn how to make pretty pumpkins in sweet and stylish pastel shades. YOU WILL NEED: Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Spray Paint Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint (125ml) Rust-Oleum Glitter Paint Paint brushes Clean cloth Paint stirrer Pumpkins METHOD: 1. Taking a cloth and some warm water, wash your pumpkins thoroughly to remove any dirt or dust which could affect applying your paint. Allow your pumpkins to fully dry before you start moving onto the next step. 2. Using a can of Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint, paint half or your pumpkin (we used the colour Duck Egg). Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish…

Summer loving To protect my laptop whilst I work outside, I use an old stool to create shade! Amelia, Thornbury Party time Use a glass as a phone speaker if you don’t have one to hand. Andy, Wiltshire On my travels When travelling, keep a bar of scented soap in the same compartment as your dirty clothes. It keeps them smelling clean! Jemma, Manchester Pictures please I always photograph my proof of return when I go to the post office in case I lose the receipt. Yvonne, Leicester Holiday hack Tie a small piece of coloured fabric to your luggage and you won’t mistake someone else’s suitcase. Georgina, Islington Phone tip Sunglasses make a great makeshift stand for your phone when you're watching something. Ronnie, Portsmouth Jump, jump! Bounce batteries…

Family run business Fairburns Eggs are proud to produceorganic, free-range, barn, and colony eggs for leading UK supermarkets. Award winning chef Rachel Green has created some recipes to celebrate their egg-cellent range! Pork and egg ramen Serves 4 INGREDIENTS: 750ml rich chicken stock 200ml water 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1tbsp grated fresh ginger 4 brown cup or shitake mushrooms, sliced 1 red chili, sliced into rounds 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 1 ½ tsp Chinese five spice powder 200g egg noodles or ramen 100g small pak choi, cut in half 100g Tenderstem broccoli 8 baby sweetcorn, cut into rounds 150g leftover roasted pork belly, cut into strips 4 spring onions, sliced 4 hardboiled Fairburn Free Range Eggs, peeled Coriander leaves to garnish Sea salt and…

Wiping my little boy’s nose, I scooped him up. ‘Shall we go out and do a bit of shopping?’ I smiled. It was October 2016, and Hero, then a year old, had the sniffles. It seemed that ever since he was born, he’d had a runny nose, but doctors were never that concerned. Keen to get him out the house for a while, I strapped him into his car seat next to his brother Zack, then two. My baby boy had turned blue My husband Matt, 40, decided to stay at home with our other kids, Madison, then 12, Lola, 10, and Savannah, nine. Climbing into the driver’s seat, I checked my rear-view mirror. Just then, I noticed that Zack was staring at Hero, looking shocked. Turning around, I was…

Know Before You Go Even if you're just doing a staycation, going to an unknown destination can cause a mixture of feelings. So, to ease any uncertainty, VisitWiltshire has put together a video to assure visitors that it's safe to visit the county. Showcasing the very best of what they have to offer, the team at VisitWiltshire want tourists to come and enjoy the local area, whilst also remaining safe and healthy. In partnership with VisitBritain and VisitEngland's Know Before You Go campaign, it's time to put your stresses aside and enjoy a well earned break. www.visitwiltshire.co.uk Treetop escape The luxury A-frame treehouse retreat is set deep in the heart of the Wye Valley Area in Gloucestershire and offers a romantic, ‘adults only' ‘perched paradise.' This unique space, the first…

From killer boots to corduroy chaos and velvet everything, it's no wonder that fashionistas everywhere still look to incorporate a hint of 1970's retro nostalgia into their everyday fashion looks. The '70s was the time of bright colours everywhere! Brand-new, sustainable tights brand Better have dropped their collection of opaque tights. For anyone looking to make a statement, 1970s style, these tights are a wardrobe must-have. Here's how to wear them! Team with a denim mini Known as the era in which the iconic mini skirt got even more mini, there’s nothing that says ‘70s style more than a high-waisted, button-down denim mini skirt. Add a pair of rust or mustard tights and a cute sweater. Find a cute pinafore Another 1970s classic is a cute pinafore, layered over a…

It isn’t really the spooky season until you’ve watched a suitably scary Halloween movie. Whether you’re watching with the little ones or scaring yourself silly with a nightmare-inducing thriller, here’s our top 3 scary movies to watch this October... HALLOWEEN - Perhaps the most appropriate of them all, this slasher movie stars Jamie Lee Curtis and follows an escaped mental patient and murderer who returns to his hometown to stalk innocent passersby. Don’t watch it alone! HOCUS POCUS - This family friendly comedy sees three Salem witches resurrected just in time for their favourite time of year. THE SIXTH SENSE - ‘I see dead people’ is perhaps one of the most famous movie lines of all time and is from this classic psychological thriller that follows a young boy who…

This month... PESKY GARDEN PESTS GardeningExpress.co.uk have revealed the pests that can do the most damage to crops, and advise on how to protect your plants without harmful pesticides… 1 Box tree moth Remove the caterpillars by hand from box plants. 2 Ants Ants are best left alone, but you can brush away the soil heaps on a dry day. 3 Snails Use eggshells, copper tape or sand as a natural way to remove them from flowers, stems and bulbs. 4 Woolly aphid Scrub the aphid colonies on tree trunks and branches with a stiff-bristled brush. 5 Vine weevil Place a 2cm layer of grit on the compost surface to make it hard for the adults to lay eggs on plant roots. 6 Southern green…

Lying in the sun, I spread out on my towel face down, keen to soak up some rays. ‘Who wants to rub my back?’ I asked, gesturing hopefully to my daughters. It was 1999, and Kimberly, then 15, and Katharine, 14, and I were living in South Africa. My husband Gerard and I had moved there back in 1980 when he got a job in Johannesburg. I soon found work as an operations manager, we’d had the two girls, and life was grand. In 1997, when Gerard and I divorced, he moved back to the UK, but I decided to stay behind with the girls. They’d been born and raised there – it was their home. But as a single mum with two teenagers to support, I was suddenly rushed…

We spoke to plus-size fashion blogger Melissa Walter (melissamarie.co.uk) about transitioning your wardrobe from summer to autumn. ‘Autumn is without a doubt my favourite season! The weather is getting cooler which means we can get all of our fab coats and jackets out again. There's Halloween to look forward to and it's always perfect weather to have hot chocolates. What's not to love?' 1.Oversized blazers Oversized blazers are ideal for autumn. They can be layered over t-shirts and jumpers and add a more chic look to ripped jeans and boots. 2. Turtlenecks I love turtlenecks! I would wear them all year round if I could. They are the perfect piece for autumn because they go with everything and are so easy to dress up and down whilst staying warm. 3.…

World leaders in cyber security solutions AVG have shared five tips for proud parents wanting to share their family photos online… 1. Ensure the settings on your social channels allow you to share with family and friends only, to reduce the chance of your photo being misused without your control. 2. If your child is old enough to understand, ask their consent prior to uploading any images. It ensures you both agree to it and helps to have the conversation about online safety in context. 3. Consider the types of photos you are uploading and the online profile of your child that you are creating. 4. Check that no personal information is in the photos you upload. Pictures of a school uniform or front door could reveal clues to your…

Febrile convulsions are fits that can happen when a child has a fever. They most often happen between the ages of six months and three years. In most cases, the high temperature is caused by an infection such as chickenpox, flu, a middle ear infection, or tonsillitis. The fits usually last about five minutes, during which the child becomes stiff and their arms and legs twitch. They may also lose consciousness. If your child is having a febrile convulsion, call 999, then place them in the recovery position while you wait.…

Pulling into the drive, I switched the car off and put my hand to my head. Rubbing my temples, I groaned to myself. It was 2011, I was 21, and in the middle of my nursing training. Now, after a long day, I had a splitting headache. ‘What do you want for your tea, love?’ my mum Pat, now 59, called as I plonked my handbag just next to the front door. ‘I’m not really hungry Mum,’ I sighed, walking into the kitchen. But as soon as I walked into the room, a rush of pain hit me in the head, as if I’d run into a brick wall. The worried face of my mum became blurry in front of me, and I suddenly felt incredibly nauseous. ‘Are you alright?’…

INSTANT + APPOINTMENT With Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of My Online Therapy (myonlinetherapy.com) The ‘new normal’ Q Since lockdown eased, I’ve been terrified of going out. How can I stop my anxiety from taking over and start getting some normality? Amber, Leeds A We went into lockdown with the understanding that it was protecting us from harm, so it's only natural that coming out of it again will no doubt trigger anxiety for some people. For those who already suffered from anxiety day-to-day, it may take some time to feel safe in the world again. Most anxieties get better through gradual exposure, so I would suggest taking small steps towards your ‘new normal'. For example, that might mean starting off by meeting with a few friends…

Around 100 women in the UK every day are admitted to hospital because of a heart attack. In the wake of The British Heart Foundation’s research which revealed that women are 50% more likely to receive a wrong initial diagnosis when having a heart attack, they’ve launched a brand-new podcast, The Ticker Tapes, talking to three women about their experiences of having a heart attack. The Ticker Tapes explores the real-life stories behind the statistics to find out what life is actually like during and after a heart attack if you’re female. The Ticker Tapes are available on iTunes, Spotify, and at www.bhf.org.uk.…

LUXURIOUS LOCKS Whilst having a pamper evening, don’t forget to indulge your locks with a good hair mask and conditioner. Palmer’s Coconut Oil range is perfect for bringing damaged tresses back to life. Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, £2.49, Boots Strengthen and repair weak, fragile or damaged hair with this super rich treatment. Formulated with ethically and sustainably sourced Coconut Oil and Tahitian Monoi. Distribute through hair and focus on the ends, leaving in for 10-20 minutes, before rinsing thoroughly. Alternatively, leave on hair overnight and rinse in the morning. However you choose to use this product, the results will be beautiful, silky smooth hair. Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Leave-In Conditioner, £4.99, Boots Instantly detangle hair with this leave-in conditioner, making it easier to comb and style.…

John D. White seemed like perfect fiancé material. He was a church minister for a small Michigan congregation and had convinced the community that he was trustworthy. Sally Gay thought she’d struck lucky when John popped the question, but she didn’t have a clue about his past. John was an ex-convict who had committed two violent crimes, and unknown to her, he’d set his sights on his next victim: Sally’s beautiful daughter... John, 55, was a self-appointed minister of a small congregation in a small church. He spoke of a troubled past, and a few at the church who had employed him knew the sickening truth, but John preached of finding God and being a changed man. Sally Gay was a member of the church. He prayed for the woman…

Sitting in a hospital bed, my life had changed overnight. I'd been a member of the RAF for three years and was proud to have been in the army. But during a training exercise, I suffered a tragic injury and broke two discs in my back. I was forced to retire and spent the next 18 months in hospital. Due to the position of the discs, it was unknown if I'd spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Thankfully, with the help of physio, I was able to get back on my feet, but life would never be the same. And in 2018, things took another turn for the worst when I was diagnosed with progressive lung disease. There's no help for it and in time, my lungs…

Pouring steaming gravy over crispy roast potatoes, my mouth watered. ‘This looks delicious,’ I smiled to my girlfriend Amy, 23. ‘You’ve really outdone yourself this time.’ It was November 2017, and Amy had been slaving away in the kitchen all day, whipping up a spectacular Sunday roast for the pair of us. ‘So how was the game?’ she asked, plunging her fork into a juicy carrot. ‘Really good,’ I smiled, my mouth full. That morning, I’d been at rugby practice. I loved my big Sunday roasts A group of us lads would get together twice a week for a game, and it was a great way to blow off some steam and take a break from my job as a scaffolder. With an active job and the rugby practice, a…