Sharing my latest currently loving favourites: ten things that are adding colour, comfort and connection to my winter.
There’s something nice about pausing to notice what’s bringing a little joy into life right now. And that’s what my regular currently loving blog posts are all about. The ‘bloggiest’ of the articles I publish on Splodz Blogz, these aren’t about acquiring things for the sake of it, they’re more like small altars to the moments and gestures that are helping to sustain me.
This time around, that feels truer than ever. A good handful of the things on this list arrived as thoughtful gifts from the people who’ve been holding me with such tenderness lately. They’re reminders that love shows up in the most practical, ordinary ways: a book pressed into your hands, a snack tucked into your bag, a random object that says, ‘I saw this and thought of you’.
And yes, there are snacks. Of course there are snacks. But in a shocking twist of character development, there are no trainers this time. Not a single pair. Instead, this list is a gentle celebration of other things making my days feel a little softer, a little more spacious, a little more mine. You know the drill. Let’s get into it.
Currently Loving | February 2026
01 My Yellow Chair
Let’s start with the item that meant my currently loving photo isn’t a traditional flat lay this time…
I bought the bright yellow Strandmon wing back chair and footstool towards the end of last year, and it immediately became the best seat in the house. It sits in the corner of my dining room, beside the table and chairs I chose earlier in the summer. My old faithful sofa, which is many years past its prime, takes up space in the lounge as a decision that’s far too involved for the now. This chair, though, was an injection of comfort and colour I could pick for myself without overthinking.
And what a choice it turned out to be. I know it’s ‘only’ Ikea, but this is the chair I now sink into with the kind of sigh reserved for pure relaxation. I’ve spent hours here reading, writing, chatting, scrolling, and simply avoiding whatever chore I’m meant to be doing. This is the place I gravitate to whenever I want to put my feet up.
The yellow is bright and cheerful without being overly loud, brightening the room and lifting my mood every time I see it. A big purchase, but one that’s made my everyday space feel more welcoming, more lived‑in, more mine. Worth it.
02 Uniqlo Fleece Tees
Hung over the back of my yellow chair are a pair of Uniqlo Soft Knit Fleece tees in green and brown. I bought both at the same time because the moment I tried one on, I knew I wasn’t leaving with just a single colour. At £20 each, they felt like an easy yes, especially for something that manages to be warm without bulk, soft without being flimsy, and smart enough to pass for ‘I’ve made a bit of effort’ on days when I absolutely haven’t.
What I love most is how versatile they are – and as such I can be seen wearing one or the other most of the time. They’re cosy enough, layer well, look good with jeans or something smarter, and somehow strike a balance between relaxed and put‑together. They also pack down to almost nothing, which makes them ideal for travel, warm enough for chilly mornings, comfortable enough for long journeys, and resilient enough to wear for days at a time without feeling scruffy. They fit into my definitely-not-stylish definition of a decent staple: not flashy, just reliable, comfortable, and surprisingly flattering.
03 Sour Apple Dates
I have my friend Sarah to thank for this obsession. She kept talking about these Sour Apple True Dates from Sostrene Grene (also on Amazon), and when we were mooching around the shops one day, she ‘made me buy’ some… I had no idea she was about to alter the course of my snacking life!
They look unassuming enough, but the first bite is a tiny electric shock of joy: chewy, tangy, and sour enough to make you pull a face before immediately going back for another. I’ve been quietly (and not so quietly) converting everyone I know ever since.
Are they as virtuous as eating plain dates? Of course not. Do I also enjoy plain dates? Absolutely. But these sit in that perfect middle ground between ‘whole food’ and ‘sweet shop raid’, which is exactly the kind of balance I aspire to. They’re brilliant for hiking, cross‑country skiing, long journeys, and my Quirky Stays. I keep a stash in the cupboard at all times. No lie.
There are a few flavours, but the sour apple flavour is the clear winner for me. And the best part: they cost the same as a big bag of Skittles. A rare moment where the ‘healthier’ option doesn’t come with a side of financial judgement. A top‑tier snack, through and through.
04 Ticket to the Moon Pouch
This little pouch was a Christmas gift, one I specifically requested, because the tiny pouch I’d been using in my handbag just wasn’t cutting it anymore. I always seem to accumulate a collection of small essentials that like to disappear into the deepest corners of whatever bag I’m carrying, and I wanted something that could corral them without adding bulk. This Ticket to the Moon – they call it a travel wallet – does the job perfectly.
It’s thin, flexible, and spacious, with enough room for all the little bits and pieces that would otherwise go missing: lip balm, plasters, headphones, tissues, pain killers, a pen (the one that appears later in this currently loving feature), you know the sort of thing. It feels well made without being heavy, and it slips easily from one bag to another, and means I never have to do that frantic ‘where on earth is…?’ rummage several times a day.
It’s such a simple thing, I know, but it’s exactly the kind of everyday carry item that quietly makes life easier. A small, practical upgrade that sits very well in this currently loving list.
05 DJI Osmo Pocket
Okay, this is a biggie. I finally took the plunge on a dedicated video camera during the Black Friday sales, after weeks (months) of comparing options and trying to work out what would genuinely fit the way I travel. In the end, I went for the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 (also on Amazon), which seems to be the market leader for good reason. It’s tiny, discreet, and capable for something that disappears into my coat pocket. I bought it ahead of my Norway trip, hoping it would help me capture the kind of footage I wanted.
I’m still very much a beginner, but I’m enjoying the learning curve. The stabilisation is excellent, the colours are great, and it’s intuitive enough that I can get decent shots even when I’m still fumbling with the intricacies. I wish I had more time to really master all the features, but for now I’m happily figuring things out as I go. If you’ve been watching my Norway daily vlog series, you’ll already have seen what I’ve managed so far. And if you haven’t, consider this your gentle nudge to dive in.
I also picked up DJI’s Neo drone (also on Amazon) in the same sale, a good deal just before the updated version launched, but so far it’s had only a handful of outings thanks to a combination of time and weather. I really do need to carve out some proper time to learn how to use it, because the idea of capturing sweeping hiking shots is extremely appealing.
06 Leuchtturn1917 Pen
I first spotted this little Leuchtturm1917 pen (also on Amazon) in a tiny shop in Chester back in November when I went for a wander with Sarah, and fell for it instantly. It’s one of those objects that feels right the moment you pick it up – light, neat, and more elegant than something so small has any business being. I very nearly bought it on the spot (I must have walked around the shop with it for 20 minutes…), but sense prevailed. Then, when my family asked what I’d like for Christmas, it shot straight to the top of the list.
So, thanks mum and dad! This is a joy to write with: smooth, precise, and just the right size for slipping into that little Ticket to the Moon pouch I mentioned above. It’s ideal for morning pages on the move, making notes in cafés, scribbling stories on trains, or capturing other random thoughts before they vanish. It’s become my go‑to pen for everything. And yes, mine’s green. Of course it is.
07 Crockery from Modego
It seems my dining room is the place to be at the moment… I mentioned this one back in Episode 178, a planned purchase with a trip to Chester specifically to make that happen.
Modego is a Portuguese pottery where everything is sold by weight, which makes the whole experience feel a bit like choosing fruit at a market – only far more fun. After more than twenty years of slowly chipping my way through the plain white set we bought soon after we got married, it felt like the right moment for something different.
I picked out a small stack of plates and bowls, each with its own pattern and personality. I didn’t want a full coordinated collection or the pressure of committing to a ‘proper’ dinner service. It’s just me for dinner most evenings, so I chose pieces I liked rather than worrying too much about how they’d look as a group. They’re all in earthy tones, so they sit together well enough if I ever do lay the whole table, but mostly I just enjoy choosing the one that suits my mood that day.
I don’t know, there has been something quietly liberating about refreshing a small corner of my everyday life without needing to tackle those bigger, heavier decisions waiting elsewhere. New crockery is such a tiny upgrade, but one that brings a surprising amount of pleasure to the ordinary moments.
08 Crumpets
When I think about it, my friend Sarah has a lot to answer for at the moment. She seems to have a hand in quite a number of my currently loving entries this time around, which goes to show what a lovely friend she is. Including this one – something of a food fixation, you might say.
Crumpets. Yes, crumpets. They have quietly overtaken bread in my food rankings and now feature regularly – and in any meal of the day. Crumpets with blackcurrant jam for lunch? Perfect. Crumpets with soup for dinner? Ideal. Crumpets with fried eggs for breakfast? A masterpiece. There’s something about that soft, squidgy texture and the way butter melts into all the little holes that just feels unbeatable.
I’m not talking about the fancy sourdough ones, they’re far too chewy. I mean the normal, bog‑standard supermarket crumpets that cost next to nothing and deliver pure comfort every single time. They toast quickly, they’re endlessly adaptable, and they make even the most thrown‑together meal feel complete.
It’s a simple love, but a sincere one. Crumpets are having a real moment in my kitchen, and I’m not sure I see the phase ending any time soon.
09 Phone Sleeping Bag
Sarah strikes again. This was an early Christmas present, chosen with my Norway trip firmly in mind, and it turned out to be one of the most unexpectedly brilliant little accessories I own. It’s essentially a tiny sleeping bag for your phone; cute, padded, and surprisingly effective. In the cold, it makes a huge difference to battery life, which meant far fewer moments of panic as the percentage dropped faster than I could say ‘Arctic wind chill’.
It was such a thoughtful gift, the kind that shows someone really paid attention to what I am up to and what might make things easier. I used it constantly in Norway, and it genuinely worked; a simple solution that kept my phone ready to capture the views.
I’ve only used it a couple of times since, but that’s mostly because I haven’t been anywhere cold enough to need it. Clearly the answer is to get myself back to the mountains soon so it can earn its keep again. Watch this space!
10 Meaningful Connection: Walks, Crafts, Saunas and Coffee
The last thing on this list isn’t a thing at all, but it’s the one that’s shaped this season more than anything else. Time with friends – on long walks, over crafts and cups of tea, for dinner, in saunas, at the theatre, or simply chatting on the sofa – has been the thread holding everything together. These moments (some of them are featured in Episode 180) have felt like tiny lifelines: steadying, joyful, and full of the kind of connection that makes the rest of life feel more manageable.
I want to say thank you, and I want to say I love you. Truly. Your presence, your patience, your humour, your willingness to show up in all the small ways, it means more than I can put into words. And I’m also sorry, because one person can only stretch so far, and there are never quite enough hours to do all the things with all the people I care about. I hope you know it’s not for lack of wanting.
Right now, connection, whether in person or through a message that arrives at exactly the right moment, feels like everything. I still yearn for time alone (the introvert in me needs that), but I can’t deny that time with friends and family is the part of my life that’s keeping me anchored, hopeful, and reminded that even in the busiest or heaviest seasons, I’m not moving through it alone.
Until Next Time…
And that’s my little collection of joys for this season. As you can see, there’s nothing extravagant, just the things that have been brightening my days and helping me feel a bit more myself. Some were thoughtful gifts, some were tiny upgrades, some were snacks (obviously), and all of them have played their own small part in making the last couple of months or more feel softer and more manageable. Writing these lists always reminds me how much comfort there is in noticing the good, even when life feels full or complicated.
I’d love to know what’s on your currently loving list this month, too. The small things, the everyday things, the things that make you smile or keep you steady. Share them with me – in the comments, a message, or wherever you like to say hello. I always enjoy hearing what’s bringing other people joy.
Read all my Currently Loving posts.
Disclosure: This is not an advertorial or sponsored post. It is, quite literally, a list of some of the things I’m currently loving. None of these items were from brands or PR agencies.
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