Pick Me Up

Merry Christmas from the Pick Me Up! team x ■

The wonderful David Attenborough has told us repeatedly over the past decade that we need to be kinder to the earth. But when it comes to Christmas, it’s hard to wrap our heads around new ways to do this. We don’t seem to have many options besides th

Back in 2017, I’d just started volunteering for a local charity. I’ve always been charity focused, and donate to as many as I can. But I’ve always wanted to do more, I just wasn’t sure what. That year, as Christmas approached, I realised how suddenly

You would do anything you could to help someone you loved. When I found out that there was something I could do to save my husband’s life, there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind. In 1991, I met Simon, 56, at the local pub. Over a pint and a packet of

Sitting in a hot tub surrounded by 6ft of snow, we clinked our glasses together. ‘This really is a white Christmas,’ I said to my husband Brett, 37, taking in the beautiful view around us. With are two children, Gabriel, 10 and Grey, two, we were cel

Taking a seat at the dining room table, my son’s eyes widened. ‘Mum, you’ve really outdone yourself,’ Joe, 25, smiled. In front of him lay a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings – a glistening turkey, roast carrots and parsnips, pigs in blank

Saddle

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Make sure the kids can easily look out of the window for Santa! The Addis window vac will make light work of cleaning windows (£24.99). This household cleaner is multipurpose, of

It was a cherished visit back to her hometown to see family for university student Mackenzie Lueck, but it was under sad circumstances. Mackenzie, 23, had travelled the 700 miles to El Segundo, California, so she could attend her grandmother’s funera

Afew weeks later, we finally managed to get Joe’s body flown home. It had cost us ?4,500 – more than Joe paid for his cheap surgery. I couldn’t face seeing him in that state, and so we agreed to have him sent off for a post-mortem. Christmas rolled a

Clutching my husband’s hand, we watched as the sonographer rubbed gel over my bump, and began to scan. ‘Is everything OK?’ I asked. It was early-2014, and I was 12 weeks pregnant. ‘It all looks good to me,’ she said. ‘Listen to the heartbeat.’ Relief

Dear MiMi, You probably don’t remember your first Christmas. You were only four-months-old, but we spent the day with your big brother, Lewis, 18, and sister Kacey-Mae, 13, along with your daddy, Philip, 44. As we watched your siblings open their pre

Eye strain and fatigue is becoming increasingly problematic – 47% of employees are working remotely, so we can’t turn a blind eye to the impact of staring at screens. That’s why Phoebe Greenacre, a holistic therapist, yoga, and meditation teacher has

Strolling around a toy store in Chicago in 2012, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Looking up at the shelves, dozens and dozens of dolls were looking back at me, and for the first time ever, there was one that represented my little girl. Being mi

7 Plunders (5) 8 Therapy (9) 10 Greek capital (6) 11 Cheater (8) 12 Spanish city (8) 13 Friend (4) 15 Famke _, actor who played Jean Grey in 2000’s X-Men (7) 17 In addition to (2,3,2) 20 Needlecase (4) 22 Killing of a king (8) 25 Sheffield-born actor

This gorgeous jewel tone is perfect for the festive season. Emerald green looks sophisticated and expensive, especially in satin and velvet materials. It was a favourite colour in New York fashion week earlier this year, and now it’s trickled down to

Getting the suitcase out of storage, I couldn’t wait to start packing our stuff. Me and my husband Mike, now 63, were getting ready for a two-week New Year trip to Egypt. Around a week before we were due to head off in January 2014, I decided to do a

Dogs are a part of the family and of course can be involved in the celebrations. To have a stressfree and safe Christmas, the Kennel Club has some im-paw-tant tips: There are lots of Christmas foods you should keep out of paw’s reach. Chocolate is po

They were a couple over 5500 miles apart and only able to message or video call, but their romance had got serious, very quickly. William Hargrove was in Albany, Oregon while his girlfriend Anna Repkina was in Moscow, Russia. It was 2016, and Anna, 2

It’s strange how one moment can change the rest of your life. For me, it was lying on the floor, looking up at the worried faces of my family. In that moment, I somehow knew that things would never be the same. Growing up, I’d always been an over-ach

Hands on my hips, I stopped still in a bid to try and catch my breath. But huffing and puffing, I knew something wasn’t quite right. Aged 20, and home from university for the summer, I’d decided to go for a run. Only, before I’d even made it to the e

Frosting (Cross out: 4, 14, 30, 35, 38, 42, 56, 68, 73, 81) ■

After a year of spending less time with friends and family, this Christmas the nation will celebrate every gesture, small or large, and show the people around them just how much they care. And with this in mind, luxury mixer brand The London Essence

Dear Mum, Do you remember on Christmas Eve when we all used to watch films together? You always bought me and my big sister, Kelly, now 43, new pyjamas to wear and fresh bedding to go to sleep in. Christmas was one of your favourite times of the year

Kirstie Allsopp helps us craft our way to a joyful festive season with her fastest crop of crafts yet. Simple, fun, affordable and all achievable in 45 minutes or less, this is a show for everyone. And to really ramp up the fun, Kirstie invites some

Sitting on the sofa, I helped my two-year-old son play with his new toys. It was Christmas Day 2019, and whilst I was playing with Harley, my husband Luke, 30, and two daughters, Teigen, 11, and Te’arnie, six, were eating their Christmas roast dinner

Work out which letter each number represents. When you’ve filled the grid, put the correct letters into the answer boxes at the bottom to spell out a word. We’ve given you five to start you off. ANSWER

It will come as no surprise to most people that Christmas will be far from normal this year. From the rule of six, to local lockdowns, it’s still unclear just how much we’ll be able to celebrate. For many, Christmas will be a very paired down affair,

Your Christmas party may be hanging in the balance, but that doesn’t mean you have to shun festive outfits altogether. This Dorothy Perkins leopard print dress is perfect to wear for multiple occasions – from (socially distanced) drinks, or brunch wi

On Sale THURS 3 DEC ■

Party season may look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to a bit of glamour. Whether it’s your hair, makeup, nails or a gift set you can’t resist, we’ve got you covered. Get your hair ready with salon-worthy

Bonne Maman is one of Britain’s best-loved conserves, famous for its signature gingham lids and high quality, all natural ingredients. You can use the Bonne Maman to create delicious festive delights – and the jars are perfect to present home-cooked

With the longer nights officially upon us, it’s time to think about brightening up your home. Stannah has collated seven enlightening tricks for bringing more brightness into the home. There’s no need to take drastic measures; whether it’s a lick of

Looking at all the gifts stacked under the tree, I tried to get my two-yearold son excited. ‘Archie, it’s time for presents!’ I said, eagerly. But Archie just shook his head, laying down on the sofa. It really wasn’t the kind of Christmas Day we’d ex

Frolicking across the sand, Reema, my Golden Retriever, didn’t hesitate for a second as her huge fluffy paws hit the wet sand for the first time. She’d never seen the sea before and was instantly captivated by the sight of its crashing blue waves. As

Heading down to my local Hobbycraft, I was on a mission. This Christmas, I refused to have a chocolate advent calendar. I wanted a cheese one, and that’s what I was going to have. Picking up some bright yellow cardboard, all that was left was the che

Keep your Christmas tree in tip top shape this season with this guide from Samuel Lyle, co-owner of Pines and Needles. (www.pinesandneedles.com) Just before you install your tree, saw off the bottom 1inch (3cm) of the trunk. This creates a fresh cut

1 When do you start decorating for Christmas? a I start some time during the first couple of weeks of December. b Without a doubt, on the 1st of December. c They usually start appearing around the house in November. d A week or so before Christmas Da