CURRENTLY LOVING | MARCH 2024

My regular currently loving feature allows me to put together a list my favourite things. I’m certainly not going to include homemade toothpaste tablets in this currently loving list, or, for that matter, putting salt in my tea. Both of these were recent experiments which were positively one offs – and have no place here! But let me tell you what I am actually currently loving…

This list always includes things I have and things I do that make me happy, make me feel good, put a smile on my face. I absolutely live by the adage that life is about experiences and not things, but sometimes we need things to make life easier, more comfortable, or even just a little bit nicer. 

And because I am who I am, my list always seems to have an outdoorsy, travel or bucket list-ish leaning, with a bit of normal life – food, clothing, everyday items – thrown in for good measure.

In this March 2024 iteration, I have an as-usual varied list of things, including two pairs of trousers, the latest addition to my trainer collection, some homemade hiking snacks, a couple of books – one audio book and one paperback, and our new (to us) DSLR. Let me tell you about them.

What are you currently loving this spring? Your favourite things right now? Take a look at my list, and then drop me a note in the comment box below with a few of yours.

Currently Loving | March 2024

01 Spring!

Represented by a little posy of four daffodils I was given the other day, the first item in my currently loving list this month is – spring.

I know it’s worrying in a climate change kind of way that ALL the spring flowers are blooming at once – I’ve got snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, tulips, tree blossom, rosemary flowers, and other things flowering in my garden, and there are the first signs of bluebells in the local woodland already – but it really is very pretty.

More importantly, spring is the season that brings a sense of renewal and joy. Its arrival is a reminder that after every winter comes a new season. As the cold, bare branches of winter begin to bud, and colourful flowers bloom, it feels like everything is waking up – including me. And the days are getting longer and warmer, allowing for more time spent outdoors in the daylight.

I don’t know, I guess I just feel like the start of spring brings with it a little burst of energy that’s been dormant for a while. Here’s to shaking off the chill and dark of winter, and embracing the possibilities that lie ahead over the coming months.  

02 Mac in a Sac Waterproofs

Gifted item.

You’ve heard of Mac in a Sac, I’m sure – the brand that makes super packable jackets. I published a review post a few weeks back, so I won’t say lots here, but I definitely wanted to include them in my currently loving list this time around.

The biggest benefit of the Origin 2 Jacket and Overtrousers is how they easily pack down into tiny little (waterproof) pouches, for easy stuffing into the smallest space in your bag. They’re super thin and lightweight, easy to wear, and are good value for money (around £60 total for the set from Ordnance Survey).

Thankfully, they also do a great job at keeping me dry – they are reasonably decent waterproof outer layers. The breathability isn’t bad, either, not bad at all. A genuinely useful addition to my pack, and can now always be found waiting and ready for the inevitable rain to arrive.

03 Quiet by Susan Cain

If, like me, you have been described as sensitive, shy, quiet, or (dare I say it) boring, you need to read this book. And, if you aren’t those things, but have used those words to describe people in your life, then you also need to read this book.

Quiet by Susan Cain – here on Audible – is an insightful and fascinating educational look at what it means to be an introvert.  

Cain explains that at least a third of us are on the introverted side. Some of the world’s most talented people are introverts – and Cain shares some of their stories. Without introverts, we wouldn’t have the Apple computer, the theory of relativity or Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Except we now live in the world of the extrovert, and being ‘outgoing’, a good talker, and wanting to jump into social situations with both feet are considered the most valuable traits.

I found Quiet to be positively self-describing. I could see myself in the stories Cain told, and found the information interesting – and useful. I’ve long known that introverts and extroverts see the world differently and know first-hand how society misunderstands and undervalues introverts. But this book has helped me to better understand myself.

Do me a favour? Give it a read.

04 Golf Trousers…  

Gifted item.

These are the adidas Go-To Joggers, designed as casual golf trousers. No, I’m not taking up golf (yet…); I bought them as I was after something that sat somewhere been super casual and tailored, and these certainly fit that bill.

I ended up in the golf section of the adidas website as I recalled having a pair of adidas golf trousers years ago, which I wore ALL the time. Something triggered this memory a few weeks back, and I quickly found these new trousers that are very similar that old pair.

They are a very simple pull-on pant which fit me really well and, I think, look nice. They certainly feel nice, which is half the battle. They’re made from cotton, have an elasticated waist with drawstring adjustment, a slight taper down to the ankle, and a couple of hand-sized pockets. I just about get away with the 7/8th leg length, showing off enough ankle skin to wear these with a pair of trainers or a nice pair of shoes, depending on where I’m heading.

They are comfortable and have a relaxed style, but are smart enough to wear to work or out for dinner. I’ll be keeping an eye on the golf range for future trouser purchases.

05 90s Sneakers

Gifted item.

Look, I know I have a bit of a problem when it comes to trainers. But they just make me smile. And the fact that I am collaborating with adidas again this year means I have some vouchers to spend – why not use them to buy things that bring me joy?!

These are the adidas LWST shoes, a heavy canvas and suede skate sneaker straight from the 90s. Just look at them! Alongside the Forum Bolds I included in my Currently Loving in November 2023, they are exactly what I was wearing as a teenager. They are chunky and comfortable and grippy and look fantastic.

I’m unlikely to get out on a skateboard in these, not even a penny board, it’s been far too long and I would certainly break something – probably me. But I reckon I can still rock the skater look even in my 40s, and have no plans to grow old gracefully when it comes to trainers.

06 Our New (to us) Camera

After a lot of thinking in recent months, we sold a couple of cameras on mpb.com – one very old Nikon DSLR and a point and shoot that turned out to be a bit disappointing – and bought a second-hand Nikon D5500.

I won’t tell the full story about why we chose this specific DSLR, as there was a lot of back and forth, and it doesn’t matter to this currently loving feature. I’ll just note that this choice provided a significant step up in specification to our old one, and meant we could continue to use the same lenses, batteries, and other accessories.

It was so nice to have this camera for Madeira (did you notice the better photos in my holiday weekly blog and hiking blog?!), and we even had a play with it at our recent stargazing experience. I’ve not really used it much yet – my husband has been hogging it! Nah I don’t mean that, but it is lovely to see him stop and take photos in a purposeful way again. Phone cameras are great, but a DSLR provides some added motivation to be careful with composition and style. It makes photography part of the adventure.

The little wrist strap attached to the camera is the functional Peak Design Cuff (here on Amazon, here at London Camera Exchange). We were influenced by the chap in London Camera Exchange (they are the UK stockists of Peak Design camera gear) when we bought the DSLR, who had one on his camera. I expect we’ll end up with a Capture Clip at some point, but for now, the Cuff is proving to be perfect for us – much handier than a full-on neck strap for the kind of photography we do.

07 Winter Sunshine – and Biscuits!

I had such a good time in Madeira. A bit of winter sun was exactly what I needed to escape the chill of the UK weather, and to allow my body and mind to unwind. It was nice to have the time and space to switch off from my normal routine. It didn’t quite undo all the stress and tension I was feeling, but it has certainly helped.

Our week away, which you can read more about in Weekly Blog Episode 144, was a real combination of being active and relaxing, just what I needed. I went for long walks and wanders in the city and the countryside, enjoyed all kinds of delicious food, and made use of the various seating options available to me at the hotel, by the marina, and in the local park.

You’re getting a double hit in this entry in my Currently Loving feature, because I also am absolutely loving the Madeiran biscuits you can see in the photo. If you ever find yourself in Funchal, Madeira, I highly recommend visiting Fabrica Santo Antonio. The story goes (and I paraphrase), that while the English and their ships could bring tea with them on their voyages, the all-important teatime biscuits were too heavy to carry as cargo. A baker saw the potential, and started making traditional English biscuits to serve to British sailors and settlers. This biscuit factory has been making the same teatime biscuits since 1893.

We brought a whole load of biscuits home, and I think the ones pictured – the ginger breads – were our favourite. They are thin and light, with a super crispy texture that also melts in the mouth. The flavour is soft ginger and caramel. So, so, so good. More, please.

08 Energy Balls

Now I know how easy they are to make, thanks to the recipe in Cook Out by Harrison Ward, I am a little bit addicted to homemade energy balls. These spheres of sweet goodness are a blitzed combination of oats, dates and nuts (I used walnuts for this batch but often use pecans), stuck together with a sticky sweet and savoury glue of golden syrup and peanut butter. Absolutely delicious.

I’m not snacking on these all the time. They are calorie dense – literally full of energy – but they are, at least, made from good calories and not from ingredients I can’t pronounce. Since mastering them, I’ve stopped buying those factory-made date bars in packs of four from the supermarket.

Energy balls like this are perfect for a treat when I need energy to move, such as when I’m hiking or doing something else active. They travel well; I can get four or five little balls in my Matador Canister (a fantastic little bit of kit). And they are a great on-the-go breakfast when I need to get my act together first thing in the morning.

09 Montane Hiking Trousers

This year, when I’m not hiking in my super-duper comfortable adidas Terrex Liteflex Hiking Pants, which are basically loose fitting tracksuit bottoms designed for hiking (I love them!), I will mostly be hiking in my lovely new(ish) Montane Terra Stretch Pants.

I purchased these towards the end of last year (in the Cotswold Outdoor Black Friday sale) to replace my worn out Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch trousers, which have been my go-to trousers for years (and years). I’ve switched because Craghoppers seem to have changed the cut of the Kiwi, and made them less stretchy, so I decided it was time to try something new.

I really do struggle with trousers, as long-time readers of Splodz Blogz will know, but I’m very happy with my choice here. They are made with something called Raptor Flex 4-way stretch fabric, which basically means they move as you do. More structured than my Terrex joggers, but with comparative comfort for long hikes – the fit is not too tight and not too loose, with enough material for my wide legs. I also really like the mesh-lined thigh vents, which unzip to allow for extra airflow – a bit like pit zips but for your legs!

10 Outdoor Fix by Liv Bolton  

In The Outdoors Fix, Liv Bolton tells the stories of 30 people who have made the outdoors part of their life in some way. Grouped together in chapters based on how the outdoors took over their lives, the tales show just how beneficial the outdoors can be to life – nurturing happiness, boosting work-life balance, improving physical and mental health, and leading to new and better friendships.

It is particularly good to see a whole chapter dedicated to ‘after-work adventure seekers’, that is, those who fit the outdoors in and around their ‘normal’ life. While all the stories are fantastic and inspiring, it is those in this chapter which are most like me and, therefore, are the most relatable. And, of course, it helps that I’ve met and spoken with some of the people featured – it’s always nice to see your friends in print.  

It’s not just stories, though. Liv also includes practical information on how to get into a more outdoorsy lifestyle/profession. As such, The Outdoors Fix is the kind of book you might consider gifting to someone in your life you feel could do with a bit of an outdoor-inspiration or motivation boost. Something for a friend to have on their coffee table to provide a little inspiration when they’re wondering what life might bring them next.

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.

For full disclosure, this is not an advertorial or sponsored post, however I have included a number of gifted items in this currently loving feature – as marked above. None of the brands involved asked to be included in this article, they appear in this list because I am genuinely currently loving them!  

There are also 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 for supporting my future adventures.