2012 in 2012 – February Update
As suspected and reported in my January Update, February has been a much harder month for my 2012km in 2012 challenge.
We started February with snow. I love the snow – it was gorgeous – but it did not help me get some long distances in, either on the bicycle or power walking. I went for a really enjoyable walk in the snow which was fantastic, and did get back on the bike as soon as I could after the worst of the ice was gone, but haven’t done as much walking this month by a long way. We’ve also had some busy weekends which hasn’t given me much opportunity for long training walks. But I’ve not sat still, I’ve still managed to do a decent number of km this month, so I’m not disappointed with myself or anything, just well aware that I need to walk much more to get fit and ready for the MoonWalk and Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenges.
Apart from cycling and a little bit of walking I’ve also done some skiing. I’m actually in the middle of a week long skiing holiday in Andorra and agreed at the start of my 2012 km challenge that skiing would count because it is exercise in the same way as walking and cycling is. I have been using the Ski Track app which I really love (maybe a review when I get home). I set it going when we get to the top of the main gondola and it follows me all day, tracking where I am, when I’m on a lift, when I am skiing and when I am having an ice cream stop (yes, ice cream, it’s been like summer on the slopes!). At the end of each day I have a report that says how far I’ve skied, how many runs I’ve done, how fast I’ve gone etc. So far my top speed is 66.7kph – which I got on an easy blue run just aiming down the fall line (ok I was trying to beat my previous top speed of 40-something!!). In total I’ve done 53km skiing towards the February total.
So here’s the data:
2012 in 2012 Summary, Wednesday 29th February
Total for February >> 209.8 km
Total for 2012 >> 459.4 km
Average per day (60 days) >> 7.65 km
Remaining >> 1,552.6 km to go
I’m still well on track for my 2012 km target, which is excellent news.
I’ve been doing some research on my walking style and have had the opportunity to try some new boots and trainers this month from brands wanting to see reviews here on Splodz Blogz – I’ll have the perfect pair for both the MoonWalk and the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge by May I’m certain of it. Last month I asked how I could try and become lighter on my feet (having the grace of an elephant makes me ever-so heavy footed) and I’ve had some great advice from Justin at Just For The Challenge which I’ve been trying, but I’ve also been warned that some people are naturally heavy footed and it’s pretty difficult to change that. My poor feet. Ho hum!
March is potentially going to be equally as difficult as February for time (and the whole year looks pretty busy) but I’m going to have to find some hours for long power walks if I’m going to manage the MoonWalk in the six hours I’m aiming for. With Spring definitely on its way I’m hoping for lots of cycle to work days and lunch time walks which all add up. This month I will also be concentrating on nutrition – I’ve got to sort out my eating – I know about eating healthily but with all these miles am always hungry and need to sort out what I take in to get the best out (haven’t done that since I was a teenager and doing athletics and playing hockey!).
So how are your 2012 challenges going? Let me know below…
Oh and if you can/want to please (please please) help me with my MoonWalk fundraising by donating a couple of quid over on my fundraising page. I’m aiming for £250 but would really love to beat that.
Whooga Ugg Boots Competition
The nice people at Whooga have given me a pair of boots to give away in a competition here on Splodz Blogz. Check out my review to find out more about Whooga ugg boots.
The winner will be able to choose their preferred style/colour from the Whooga website, so this really is a great prize that you can keep yourself or give to a friend.
To enter please comment on this blog post telling me what makes your feet most comfy.
It might be a particular pair of shoes or socks, a specific chair, a bed in your favourite hotel or in your favourite holiday destination. Whatever it is, tell me about it to be in with a chance of winning.
You must also like Whooga on facebook or follow them on twitter – please state which you have done in your comment below (please only comment once).
Make sure you enter by 8pm on Friday 2nd March for your entry to count, and take a note of the rules below.
The Rules
- This competition is open to UK residents only.
- You must be aged 18 years old or over at the time of entry.
- The competition closes at 8pm on Friday 2nd March 2012.
- Entry is by making a relevant comment on this post and by liking Whooga on facebook or following them on twitter.
- Entrants must include a valid email address in the box provided (will not be published).
- You can only enter once. If you post more than one comment only your first will count as entry into the competition.
- Members of my immediate family cannot enter (sorry!).
- The winner will be picked at random from all eligible entries and be announced on Splodz Blogz soon after the closing date.
- The prize is one pair of Whooga ugg boots as chosen by the winner.
- The winner must respond to their email from Splodz Blogz within two days or I reserve the right to re-draw.
- The winner’s details will be given to Whooga and they will arrange the prize directly. Details will not be used for any other purpose.
- You don’t get any extra entries for tweeting or posting about this competition anywhere, but I don’t mind if you do (go on… you know you want to – use one of the share buttons below!).
- Oh… and my decision is final (I like saying that!).
Whooga Ugg Boots
I received an email not so long ago offering me the chance to review a pair of Whooga ugg boots. Whooga ugg boots? Never heard of them… so I naturally had a look into them and discovered that they are one of a seemingly large number of companies making the popular Australian ugg style boots. So I said yes, and received a pair of “classic tall” boots in chestnut in double quick time direct from Australia.
As you can see the boots really only just fit my larger than average calf size. As such they are a little squished around the ankle. I am sad to say I’ve always had big calf muscles, it used to be because I was a hockey player and triple jumper as a teenager but it’s no longer muscle that causes the problem! But these are not uncomfortable and I think I just about get away with them. If I had bought my own I think, I know, I would have gone for the shorts to be on the safe side – I would hate to have to send something back because my legs were too fat!!
Apart from the narrowness of the boots the fit is great. I ordered my actual size and they are perfect, there was no need to go up or down.
Whooga say right from the off on the home page of their website that there are a lot of misconceptions about ugg boots and which are “real” and what are “fake”. Much of that is marketing talk, of course, but they make some valid points, and it’s sad they feel they have to in order not to be considered as fakes. Whooga uggs boots are of course the real thing – they are not “fuggs”, they are not rip off UGG Australia boots as the term “ugg” refers to a style of sheepskin boot not a brand, and you get the impression from the Whooga website that they feel very strongly about that! EMU and other brands are in the same position, and actually I reckon I’ve seen loads of other brands become better known – still top end prices and good quality products, but not the market leading brand.
Anyway… Whooga ugg boots are made with a thick inner fleece which wrap and blanket your feet in clouds of warm air. They work by trapping and circulating air in amongst the fibres, keeping feet warm in winter and cool in summer. Obviously I’ve only done the winter bit at the moment, and I can definitely testify to them being warm. These boots are made from twin faced leathers and are hand stitched and very light.
They seem to be made really well. The stitching is sound, the uppers are brushed evenly, and the thick liner is plush and soft and goes all the way down to the toe end of the boot. Whooga recommend you wear these with no socks – I tried them on with socks straight from the box but since then have happily gone bare foot when wearing them. It’s something to do with the thick shearling and how it traps the air, and the fleece does feel nice!
Now I admit that the only other pair of ugg style boots I own is a £30 pair I bought from River Island a couple of years ago. And I love those. They are shorts and are nice and wide – I wear them a fair amount under and over jeans. Like those, I would never wear these in the rain and definitely never in the snow. Those are thin though, not furry inside like these; these are much more cosy on the feet and while I will happily wear these with no socks, the River Island ones definitely require a pair between my toes and the inners. But I can’t compare these to the infamous UGG Australia boots that appear to be the market leader. For one I would never be able to spend £180 or there abouts on a pair of boots that you can’t go out in the rain in – not when I live in the UK!
The thing with this style of boots is the sole. My husband commented that you see girls wandering around walking on the side of the boot. He’s right – it looks terrible and must be awful for their feet. They are designed with soft uppers and light soles and as such collapse after not very much wear really. So far so good with these ones, and I would always be careful to walk properly anyway. The sole does seem pretty solid and has some grip on the bottom. I’ll let you know.
To be completely honest the jury is still out on whether I consider these fashionable or not. Ok so a lot of the fashion magazines say they are, but I wonder if that’s more to do with label rather than style. I don’t know. I mean, I’m no fashionista. But I do know that these are comfortable and very warm and that is what counts most of the time, and for that reason I’m giving these a virtual thumbs up. I shan’t be power walking miles in them but they are great for putting on after a long walk for my feet to relax in for sure. I like them.
These classic tall Whooga ugg boots come in at £89 (half the price of an equivalent UGG Australia boot).
Dermalogica Power Duo Exfoliation Kit
A few days ago I reviewed the Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream here on Splodz Blogz – I’ve also been testing the “Power Duo” Exfoliation Kit by Dermalogica recently, also sent to me by John and Ginger Beauty.
This limited edition twin pack of Dermalogica exfoliation products is designed to give you the best of daily and occasional exfoliation products.
The Daily Microfoliant is just that – a daily use product that gently lifts surface debris (I hate that phrase – “surface debris” – makes my face sound like a building site!) to give you brighter skin.
It’s a bit of an odd product in my opinion – not a cream or a lotion or a gel but a powder. You sprinkle some of the powder into your hands and once it’s mixed with water it turns into a cream. My sister, who also trialled this with me, said “odd but nice” and I’d agree with her totally on that. We both used too much the first time and ended up having to rinse over and over again (oops), but once we got the quantity right (you only need a little bit – this isn’t a cleanser you do this after cleansing) it felt nice on the face and rinsed off easily. This product hasn’t helped my spot prone skin (I’ve still got as many spots as ever) but it does make my skin feel nice and smooth and like all that “debris” is gone. Yes, odd, but nice.
The other product is the Gentle Cream Exfoliant, which is a once or twice weekly product. I assumed I was supposed to use this instead of the Microfoliant product, and so that’s what I did. A more traditional exfoliation product, I found this easiest to use in the shower where it’s dead easy to rinse it off. I liked this creamy face product, I did feel it was doing my face good.
John and Ginger Beauty currently have this twin pack of products for £12.50.
Cosy Tea Competition Winners
Thank you to everyone who entered my Cosy Tea competition. It was nice reading all your comments about your favourite cup of tea – most of you seem to enjoy your first one of the day the most, a great start to the day.
As you know there were two complete sets of Cosy Tea to give away so we have two winners… and they are (chosen at random from all eligible entries)…
Reality Bites Baking (Gina)
Loved my cuppa the other night, watching the snow fall out of our cosy living room window with my daughter (aged 3 – just!) who was spotting penguins.. In the middle of London! Best cup of tea I’ve ever enjoyed. Needless to say, I didnt see any penguins, maybe I missed them all as I was indulged in my tea?!
Rod Curtis
The best cup of tea I can have is a steaming hot cup of PG from my flask after I’ve stood for two hours in the freezing cold waiting for the farrier to shoe my wifes horses.
Well done Rod and Gina – I will contact you shortly, please reply so I can arrange your prize.
Don’t forget to read my review of Cosy Tea, and make sure you subscribe using the box over on the right so you are first to know of new reviews and competitions. You can also find me over on Facebook and Google+.
The North Face Slippers – Down for the Feet
I saw these first on a fab surfer’s blog (Ashleigh Bennetts) and as I was already looking around for the perfect pair of slippers to replace my worn out Animal boots I decided to investigate. And I feel in love. And I treated myself.
The North Face Nuptse Tent Mules are slippers designed for the coldest of feet. With 450 fill down insulation they are warm and cosy, just like the traditional down jackets and vests The North Face are known for. I have them in the ivory colour, which is light and feminine. My size 7 feet fit into the small just right – they are a snug fit but a close fit is the idea and there is some give in the material (the small is for 6.5-8).
I have no intention of trying these out at the top of a mountain or at the North Pole (just yet – anyone want to sponsor me to go on a massive expedition?!) but I like to think that these would keep my feet warm there too. Apparently they’re also water resistant and durable and so can be worn outside as well as in – mine will absolutely be kept indoors though! In fact they may be the first slippers I pack to take on holiday, I’ve never done that before, is that normal?!
Oh and the green factor – the upper is made from recycled plastic bottles. Nice touch.
Price wise these are on the expensive side at £35 (I got mine for £24.50 from Two Seasons, making them more affordable) but from the second I put them on I would say they are worth every penny. Sometimes it’s just worth spending a little extra.
Colman’s Season and Shake
I’ve heard loads of good and loads of bad comments about these Colman’s Season and Shake packets. So the obvious thing to do was buy one and try it out for myself. I went for the 49p Cajun Chicken version.
Oh that’s blurred isn’t it? Apologies!
The idea of this product is for mess free easy cooking with fresh ingredients. The recipe was chicken, onion, pepper, cherry tomatoes, rice, water and the included seasoning mix. It took a couple of minutes to prepare (you have to chop up the chicken and veg etc), but nothing too taxing, and then it’s just a case of putting it all in the bag, mixing it all together, and sticking it in the oven.
You then just walk away and leave it to cook like you would a casserole (but being small pieces it doesn’t take an age).
As you can see the bag expands – the instructions say that you can’t risk the bag touching the sides of the oven, so I took one of my trays out to make sure it didn’t.
The comments I’ve seen from others include that the suggested time on the packet isn’t long enough – in some cases the chicken has still been raw and the vegetables rock hard. The recommendation for this one was 35 mins and the meat, veg and rice were cooked perfectly. Well most of it was – there was a bit of rice very stuck to the bottom of the bag, I should probably have “stirred” the food half way through the cooking time to prevent this. Having said that, there wasn’t much waste, a very small amount of rice.
Another comment I have seen more than once over on twitter is that the bag can split, which would be incredibly annoying as the meal wouldn’t cook in steam like it is designed to do (and it would be a mess!). I found the bag was fine, with no leakage, but it’s worth checking the bag is all ok before putting your food in.
I can understand why the instructions suggest to put the meal into a serving dish – it’s pretty impossible to serve this onto individual plates using a spoon in the bag, but it was easy to tip it all out (with the help of some gloves) and serve it from there. Of course with the preparation and serving dish the suggestion that there’s no washing up is of course a stretch, that is probably not a claim Colman’s should be making.
Taste wise this was excellent. The Cajun seasoning turned a normal chicken and rice dish into something very yummy. Portion size was good too – there was plenty of food.
Overall this was easy and very tasty – a great idea and I am confident to try others in the range. It’s a very lazy way of cooking but it’s all fresh and decent ingredients so it’s not so bad, and sometimes lazy is necessary as it means you can get on with stuff while dinner is cooking.
Apparently I managed to choose a flavour that isn’t on the Colman’s website so I can’t link to it – I guess it’s being phased out (hence the 49p price tag). But you can see the range here.
Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream
Horrible photo alert… this is my hand after getting in from my cycle ride home from work about ten days ago:
I’m so sorry but I thought I would show you what I’m up against here. As you can see, my hands look old, are dry from the weather (and yes I wear decent gloves when cycling) and are crying out for something soothing.
I have been using Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream for a week now (I was sent this to review), hoping it will help get rid of the horrible dry chapped skin I have at the moment.
This cream promises a lot. The description says it “hydrates even the most driest skins, leaving it smooth and toned” – yes please! And while my hands are still dry when I get home from cycling in this cold, they are so much better than they were.
An advanced formula, Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream hydrates even the most driest skins, leaving it smooth and toned. Extracts of green tea help to calm skin, while essential oils of lavender, patchouli and orange lock in moisture. Purifying oils of lemon grass and rosemary, energises, tones and revitalises the skin and the senses. Hydroxy acids from sugar cane and apple extract, combined with lactic acid gently exfoliates and relieves dryness as this non-greasy formula provides instant hydration.
Not specifically a hand cream, Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream is designed to smooth and condition the skin, and provides gentle exfoliation to get rid of dry and dead skin. It soaks quickly and doesn’t leave my hands greasy at all, and I have enjoyed using it.
Fragrance wise the lemon and green tea come through nicely, it’s quite a strong scent actually but a pleasant one. The cream is a perfect consistency for rubbing in gently – not runny like a lotion but not thick like a concentrated hand cream.
A luxury cream at the price point perhaps, but an excellent one that has done the trick on my hands (and knees and elbows).
John and Ginger Beauty sent me this product to try and review here on Splodz Blogz – you can buy a massive 473ml bottle of the Dermalogica Body Hydrating Cream for £27.90.
