Time for another Currently Loving list. These very bloggy-blog posts fills me with a weird sense of joy, as I give real and deep thought to the things that are making my life a little bit nicer than it might otherwise be at the moment. And as you’re not getting a gift guide from me this year (this one I shared last year is still relevant), it might also give you some gift inspiration as we are now well into that time of year!
While Splodz Blogz is primarily an outdoors and adventure focused blog, and the vast majority of my ramblings have that as the context, my semi-regular currently loving post gives me a chance to chat about a few items that are often much less of that – clothing, homeware, food, personal care products, shoes, anything really. One thing that is always true: my currently loving posts include things that make me smile, and that is why I write it.
As always, I have put together a random selection of things to share. There’s the motorcycle jacket that kept me cool in the Sahara Desert, a couple of toiletry items, a very old coat, a couple of audiobooks, some food items, a new map in my favourite inspirational collection, and those chunky trainers I mentioned in a recent weekly blog episode. Let me tell you all about them…
Currently Loving | November 2023
01 Rev’it Mesh Jacket
In preparation for my ride down to the Sahara Desert (read Weekly Blog Episode 130), as well as for (not yet planned but definitely dreamt of) future bike trips in hot climates, I bought the Rev’it Eclipse 2 textile jacket. This lightweight jacket has bunch of mesh panels which allows air to flow through, designed to keep me cool when the weather is hot. And as the temperature got over 40 degrees at times, it was very much needed. It makes my currently loving because it was just the perfect jacket for that trip, and I know will be very useful in future.
Unlike when buying my three-season suit, which took months and involved trying on a ridiculous number of options to get something that both fitted my shape and had the spec I wanted, this time I had lots of choice. I did try on a few different brands, but could have bought several of them – a nice problem to have. In the end I went with the one that looked and felt the nicest on my body, provided the protection I wanted, offered good value (not too spendy!), and that I could take away that day.
It cost me £125, which included the elbow and shoulder armour (the same back protector I have in my other Rev’it jacket fits, so I didn’t need to buy another one). I went up a size compared to my everyday suit – the more urban style of this one meant the cut was a bit closer and I still wanted to be able to layer up underneath to make sure I was comfortable in the cool mornings.
The Silver
I went with the silver colour because they didn’t have the blue I liked in my size on the day, and I didn’t what black. I knew the silver would stay clean for about three minutes, but also knew it wouldn’t soak up the heat like a dark colour, and would help me stand out on the road. The jacket did come home from Morocco incredibly grubby, especially thanks to the dusty conditions in the Atlas Mountains, but it has washed pretty well. I’m very much of the ‘looks like what it’s meant for’ mindset, and so a grubby jacket is not a problem to me.
It must be a good jacket because there were three of us on the trip wearing them, and another two said they had one at home – not a bad advertisement for Rev’it there!
02 Fresh Breeze Cooling Spray
Gifted item.
RINGANA were once again very kind to me at the end of the summer – they sent me a massive package of travel toiletries to try out. All kinds of lovely fresh vegan and cruelty free products for my face and body – cleanser, moisturiser, shampoo, body wash, tooth oil, deodorant, and lots more (see Weekly Blog Episode 126 for more on that).
It’s the Fresh Breeze refreshment spray that specifically makes it into my currently loving feature this time around. I’ve always been a bit dubious about cooling sprays, but this one has converted me. Designed to spray on the face and body when you need a bit of relief from the heat, the aloe-based spray contains mint and lemon oil which is genuinely cooling and refreshing. I mean, it doesn’t actually turn the sun down, but it does provide some short term reprieve.
My husband and I both used this spray on our trip to the Sahara Desert, thankful for the gifted addition my bag. We would spray it on our faces and arms when taking breaks from riding, and it was especially welcome when wandering the streets of Fes and Marrakesh.
Sadly, this product has since been discontinued, which is a real shame. I’m always a bit late to the party with these things (not normally this late!), but hey, at least you know what I do actually like!
I’ll also give an honourable mention the FRESH lip balm, which is also a fantastic little product. This tiny pump bottle has a liquid lip balm in it which is incredibly soothing and refreshing for my lips – but isn’t greasy. There’s a touch of ginger in the formula which makes my lips tingle in a very pleasant way.
03 Lush Bubble Bars
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of a soak in a hot bubble bath. It is my relaxation method of choice when I’m worn out and stressed, after a difficult day at work, when I’m home from a long hike, or even just at the end of a normal day doing normal things. Showers are great in the mornings, but baths are my favourite way to while away an hour in the evening.
Four baths out of five I will use a bog standard Radox bubble bath because it offers a good bubble to value ratio. But when I’m feeling like extra relaxation is required, or have more time, I love to use a Lush bubble bar.
Thanks to a thoughtful birthday gift, I am currently loving working my way through these two bubble bars – Sleepy and Comforter. Sleepy is lavender based, and Comforter is bergamot based, so I’ve got one which is good for helping me relax, and one which is designed to lift my mood. You don’t need much to create a bath full of bubbles, and the water if left super soft and luxurious. These two aren’t too glittery either, so the bath itself doesn’t take much cleaning afterwards!
I also enjoy using the Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All bubble bath, but I would say the Lush bubble bars are better value at this price point – and have the added benefit of coming with Lush’s excellent sustainability and cruelty free credentials.
04 The North Face Honee Snugs Parka
Gifted item – over ten years ago!
This currently loving entry is a real oldie but goodie. My The North Face Honee Snugs Parka is over ten years old now, and while it is bordering on worn out, I still really love it. It is possibly the best coat I’ve ever owned. It was originally gifted by The North Face when I had the pleasure of working with the brand for a while (this is my original review).
Say what you will about how the guys who started The North Face and Patagonia went in different directions (watch this video if you’d like a bit of background), but you can’t deny that The North Face make really fantastic technical outdoor gear, which looks the part and is comfortable to wear.
Everything about this coat is great. The style, fit, length, design, colour, specification, number of pockets – I mean, it’s warm, waterproof, fits me well, looks great, and works a treat. I’ve done everything wintery in this: skiing, snowboarding, hiking, urban exploring, and other things I can’t think of right now… It’s been a real work horse and I still pick it out to wear on the commute to work in the cold weather even after abusing it for a decade.
The problem is that it is now showing its age. I don’t mind admitting I’ve been looking around for a coat to replace my trusted green one, given that this one is very worn in places and definitely isn’t quite doing the job it was originally designed for when it’s very cold out. And while there are a some which look good – including the Fjallraven Greenland Winter Jacket – I’ve not quite got to the point where replacing this one is worth the spend yet.
05 Crime Fiction
Generally speaking, I’m an adventure story kind of girl. My audible library is full of biographical and autobiographical tales of people and the amazing adventures they’ve been on – hikes, runs, motorcycle rides, climbs, swims, and all kinds of other things. I love hearing about other people’s weird and wonderful adventures; what they did and what they discovered as a result (I’ve recommended a bunch here if you’re looking for suggestions).
However, recently I’ve done little adding to my adventure book library as I’ve been appreciating fiction. Crime fiction and mystery, at that. I know, I’m sorry! There’s just something so give-my-brain-a-break about the what-really-happened genre – character focused stories with a bit of mystery thrown in. Nothing too deep or dark or complicated, but light-hearted tales of murder and intrigue and people are perfect for long drives and lunchtime walks.
Two titles I’ve listened to in the last couple of weeks are The Life She Wants by Mel Sherrat (here on audible), and The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman (here on audible), both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The former I would especially recommend if you like a mystery novel, it’s a good one.
I’ve also finally got onto the Only Murders in the Building bandwagon, having watched the first season on Disney Plus over the last few weekends. I suspect I’ll let my Disney Plus subscription lapse when it comes up for renewal this time thanks to the massive increase in price, but in the meantime, I’m making the most of it, and will certainly be starting season two on Saturday.
06 Marshmallow Fork
Oh, how I love a toasted marshmallow! And I love a campfire almost as much… So, I was very happy when I opened my birthday gift from my mum and dad to find this little marshmallow fork to use over my fire bowl. Something I’d never have bought myself, but which was lovely thoughtful gift that will be very well used. It even came with a big bag of large marshmallows, a definite bonus!
The one I have is by Grill Meister, it’s got a reasonably short (so it’s not unwieldy) heatproof handle, and a double pronged pointy end. There are bunch of similar marshmallow forks available on Amazon (and probably from your local garden centre).
07 Fairy Rings
This is definitely a thing I’ve discovered rather than a thing I own, but my currently loving feature is nothing if it’s not inclusive of the weird and wonderful things that are bringing me joy!
When on a walk with friend Katy the other weekend, we discovered fairy rings. They were growing all over the Common. I’ve never seen large circles of mushrooms like this before, but apparently, they are quite usual in places like this.
I’ve since learnt these (almost) perfectly formed rings are caused by an individual fungus growing underground – a subterranean network of fine, tubular threads called hyphae which grow out evenly in all directions, creating a circular mat of underground threads. Fairy rings like these can spread from a few inches to many feet across. Absolutely fascinating.
Of course, rings of mushrooms have plenty of folklore attached to them. And I can see why! In some traditions, fairy rings are good luck, and in others they’re bad luck… Katy and I are rather hoping for the former!
Have you discovered fairy rings on your One Hour Outside walks this month?
08 Adidas Forum Bold Trainers
Kind of gifted. I’ll explain.
I’ve had the absolute pleasure of collaborating with adidas throughout 2023 (which should really make my currently loving feature in its own right – it’s been a pretty cool gig), and as part of that I received vouchers to spend on the adidas website. With some vouchers left to spend after my various agreed posts were all done and dusted, I decided to treat myself to a pair of trainers I’ve been eyeing up for quite some months (hence the kind of gifted note above).
The Forum Bold is an iconic adidas sneaker based on an original design from 1984 (when I was four…), which I have in white, green and maroon. I just think they look perfect – the platform sole gives them a chunky look and feel which is right up my street. Yes, I’m a woman in her 40s rocking a pair of platform trainers – that’s okay, isn’t it?!
These aren’t outdoorsy trainers by any stretch, so I won’t be telling you how they’ve got great grip, a nice wide toe box, and a comfortable yet supportive upper (the things I look for in a good pair of walking trainers). Rather, these are all about looking and feeling great in my everyday life – teamed a pair of wide legged jeans worn for a lunch date with friends, you know the scene. I just love them, they make me look and feel great.
Have you been tempted to relive your teenage years in fashions that have come back around? Probably a good job it’s only shoes I really pay attention to!
09 Bucket List Marvellous Map
Gifted item.
My friends over at Marvellous Maps have added another title to their fantastic series of Great British maps, and this one is so up my street it just had to be included in my currently loving post this time around. They did send it to me as a gift, but as you’ll see, this one definitely has my name written all over it.
The Great British Bucket List Map (told you!) is all about inspiring your wish list of places to visit. The fold-up paper map is full of information and ideas, covering a little bit of everything there is to do on our island. There’s outdoors and adventure, culture and heritage, long-distance routes, festivals and events, and fun facts. Think wild and beautiful places to visit, folklore tales and funny place names, week-long hikes and scenic train rides, speciality food and drink to try, and a bunch of hints and tips to get you out and about.
It’s been really fun to look over the map and see just how many of the suggestions I’ve already ticked off my own bucket list – and you know I’ve been adding new things to my list as well.
Get yours – and maybe a bunch of the other titles – direct from Marvellous Maps (also available at the Ordnance Survey shop and from Amazon).
10 Forthay Granola
I’ve mentioned my love of granola in my currently loving posts before, but I’ve hit a whole new granola high with this one! Forthay Granola is handmade in the Cotswolds – by the owner of one of the B&Bs Fiona and I stayed in on our Cotswold Way hike earlier this year.
I had a (very small…!) bowl of the pecan and spiced apple variety with natural yogurt for my breakfast on the morning of day five, and was instantly hooked. I said in my adventure journal post that if I’d been doing something other than walking, I’d have bought some to take home. Thanks to my birthday, I’ve now (finally) got my hands on some.
The granola is hand baked to order in small batches on the farm, and it’s all natural, with no additives, no refined sugar, and only up to a maximum of 45% jumbo oats and cereals in every bag – this is really good quality stuff. I’ve got a selection to keep me going for a while – the Honey, Nut and Cranberry Granola, Mulberry, Date and Chai Granola, and Pecan, Pumpkin Seed and Spiced Apple Granola.
This is an expensive and luxurious breakfast, I know that, especially when served with my preferred natural kefir and berries. But you know, it’s good to treat yourself well.
What are you currently loving this month? What do you think of my choices? Tell me in the comments below.
Read all my Currently Loving posts.
In the interests of full disclosure for this currently loving post, and as mentioned within the text above, the Bucket List map, The North Face coat, and Fresh Breeze spray, and adidas trainers were originally gifted by brands. I have therefore marked this post as gifted, but it is not sponsored – none of these brands asked to be included in my currently loving feature, I did that because I’m genuinely currently loving the items.
Additionally, there are affiliate links on this page, the funds from which help me go on the mini adventures that make life interesting. If you buy something from a website after using one of my links, I receive a very small commission. This does not cost you anything. Thank you.
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