Having spent a lot of time on the coast growing up, Barbour jackets are rather sentimental to me and my family. So when I was asked to take part in a campaign to launch their new Seafarer collection, I jumped at the chance. The brand are one of few to still be manufactured in their original factory in Southshields, and I went up to to see how the trademark jackets are made (in house, by a dedicated team of 140 all of whom have an extremely specific part to play in the creation of every piece). 

The lunch really did spell out what Barbour is to me; being in the great outdoors. Eating outside (in March) seemed totally crazy, but it captured the spirit of the whole trip even if we did risk frostbite at some points! We went off for a walk on the beach to help us digest all the food, you can see those pictures over on Barbour's blog here. 

All in all, Barbour is such a lovely company. I'm so glad I took the time to go and meet the people behind the brand. The level of their knowledge is just incredible - we were given a proper history of the brand and learned so much. Not to mention the workforce; a really fab, local group of people who clearly love their jobs as much as Barbour love them. As for the collection, it's a really lovely step on from the heritage jackets and has some great basics as well as some bolder colours. View the whole lot here.

I'm very much of the opinion that a blogger should show their audience what their lives are really like, as it's the main point of difference between us and editorial content. For some people that means endless images of avocado, eggs and perfect pins. For me, it's more "dog just rolled in a puddle and I forgot to put the towel in the car." Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you my Easter Monday problems:

This is a really good example of what I wear when I'm relaxing, I guess you could call it off duty style. Although I've been brought up in London, my family are down in South Wales and I've spent a huge amount of time plodding around outsides in waxed jackets and wellies. I got this jacket last week when I was up at the Barbour factory (shooting something quite exciting which is coming up in May). I am absolutely thrilled with this, and can't wait for it to get a little more muddy and worn. As soon as I put it on it takes me back to being a kid, mucking out horses or being very, very cold in the "Welsh Spring" on the beach...

The wellies are Hunter, because is there another wellington boot brand? I mean, really? These are actually my mums (I think, I found them in the garage at home - could well be my sisters...), we have a number of pairs floating around the house. I can't wear the higher versions as my "dense" calves don't fit in them, but these are great. I really like the black, they're less of a statement... Look awesome covered in mud too, which is convenient.

Keeping up my new "thing" of wearing colour, I wore my trusty L.K Bennett Mariel bag (unglamorously the two compartments are brilliant for dog walking - my stuff in one, Lopez's treats, bags and bits in the other). It sold out in a millisecond I think, but ever so often ones pop up on the site so do keep and eye out here. The jumper as I mentioned is from Wyse London, and I'm obsessed with it. It's so soft. Apparently I look like a childrens' TV presenter in it, but I always wanted to work on Blue Peter when I was little so I'm quite happy with that... Lastly, my sunglasses are fast becoming my staple, every day pair. They're a really good shape for me as I've got an annoyingly round face unless I wear things that add contouring (not Kim K style, I mean as in angular shaped accessories and they're from Hugo Boss here. 

We just managed to dodge the rain storm to get Lopez in the car. He had a brilliant time printing his muddy paws across the back seat - us, not so much. Hope you had a fantastic Easter break, and Happy Spring! Feels like the sunshine is finally here, almost.