Hunter wellies - check.
Barbour jacket - check.
Plaid Barbour scarf - check.
Sunglasses - check.
4x4 - almost check - used to have one.
Criteria for a North Yorkshire School Mum. Actually, this is probably also the criteria for being a farmer's wife too. This is what I look like on the school run on those days when I'm just being a regular mum and not some rock chick or French mademoiselle in stripes and ballet pumps on one of my imaginary adventures.
That's me eating nonchantly posing with a sarnie.
The Barbour jacket was a Christmas present from the Grumps a couple of years back. I chose the jacket and despite it being a lovely jacket, I don't really wear it that much - I think it makes me look even more suburban school mum than what I already am. The one thing which drew me to the jacket however was the lining - the Liberty lining was gorgeousness personified and I was powerless to resist. My bugbear though is no one can see the gorgeousness personified except me - hmphh.
So pretty - shame no one can see it.
Comes complete with care instructions on how to look after this baby!
Ben modelling the latest It bag containing sarnies.
This is why I have children - so they can carry my bags.
We are actually very lucky to live 5 minutes walk away from what is a Wildlife Habitat Protection Trust area.
Is what it says on the sign. Obvs.
Lovely healthy lunch - not.
You can run round in the maze (might take a few more years to realise it's full potential) and play games such as Follow my Leader....
I'm right behind you Daddy!
.... or Hide and Seek!
I could have sworn he was behind me a minute ago.
You can look for elves amongst the toadstools.
They're over there!
And throw a strop when you realise you've been had by your big brother!
He huffs so well.
You can do your best impersonations of Prince Charles.
He walks round like this all the time - he just doesn't know it.
See!
And then you can go home and it didn't cost you any car parking or any additional sundries which is usual when you visit anywhere. However, we didn't get totally off scott free - we were got by the Ice Cream man!
Do you still have ice cream vans coming round your way?
And what do Barbours and Hunters say to you? Traditionalist? School Mum? Farmers Wife? Or are you one of the young uns' in your cut off shorts doing your bestival best?
99 Flake please!
Do you still have ice cream vans coming round your way?
And what do Barbours and Hunters say to you? Traditionalist? School Mum? Farmers Wife? Or are you one of the young uns' in your cut off shorts doing your bestival best?
How gorgeous are your photo's! Ah.. the trusty Hunters! I love my Hunters and wear them so much when I'm in the UK. I think they say practical thinking and comfort more than anything. I actually saw an ice cream van on the weekend which brought back many happy memories. I so rarely see them now but love them so much.
ReplyDeletexx Mandi
www.findmeamuse.com
Thank you Mandi. The trusty Hunters are earning their keep. I bought them on a whim a few years back when I got it in my head that I had to have aubergine coloured Hunters. And then I couldn't not buy Ben some and these have now been handed down to George. Aah - the ice cream man - love and hate in equal measure. Ben when he was younger was like Pavlov's dogs salivating at the sound of the ice cream van. He's been deprogrammed now.
DeleteYour children are adorable :)
ReplyDeleteI love my Hunters - haven't used them since leaving England, but they are so handy in that climate. And I enjoy that English countryside look - so functional and classic.
Have you checked out Amanda Brooks' blog I Love Your Style? She has some great posts on living in the countryside and staying stylish.
Thank you Ammu - I loved reading all about you in Miss Sophie's post. I'd say you were rather lucky not to have to wear your Hunters any more. We have many more months of welly weather ahead here. I've not checked out Amanda Brook's blog but I will do a search shortly and see what turns up. Thank you for stopping by :o)
DeleteI love activities that cost next to nothing - we live by the beach so are often found wrapped up having a BBQ in all weathers on the stones! I have a pair of muddies - best wellies Ive ever owned = warm and cosy, just not very stylish, but who cares when it's pouring down eh?! Love the hunters and barbour jacket - the lining secret must create a smug little smile when you wear it! xx
ReplyDeleteCould not, could not resist the Liberty lining. But which one to choose as there were four different colourways but this was my favourite Liberty print out of them all which certainly helped with the decision. And it's lovely to live where places like this are on our doorstep. I'm all for saving on the pennies - half the time the small people don't appreciate the activities as much that you have paid a song and dance for them to experience anyway.
DeleteIn the country your outfit looks cool and practical for me. As for Barbours, I generally like jackets with a utility look so I don't see anything wrong with yours!
ReplyDeleteI don't feel too bad when I'm tramping through grass and muck and I'm dressed in something like this but I am a townie really even though I kind of live in sheep country as I call it. I can walk down the street and see a few tractors as I pass. I think I feel a bit of a fake ... but it's a look and it's a popular look at that.
DeleteI don't own a pair of wellies but I do have a waxed jacket, alhtough not Barbour. I really like the look, I think you've managed to look chic and trendy whilst still being suitably attired for the weather. Your photos are fantastic and I always really enjoy your picture headings.
ReplyDeleteNo wellies - how do you manage without wellies? It rains in Ireland just as much as here doesn't it? Thanks for the comment on the photos - good natural daylight always helps but the best thing is putting the captions on the photos - you can take the proverbial Michael with the comments.
DeleteThe trusty Country Mum look. I work that one alot. I wear my Hunters loads but don't own a waxed jacket. I have a few gillets of varying warmth and wear them with thick jumpers or blazers underneath. On the bottom half jeans or skirts with thick cable knit tights.
ReplyDeleteI think I need some warmer boots though, have been eyeing up some Timberland lace up ones. Currently on special offer in Jones ...
Lovely photos, your boys are very cute.
Oooh - are you a proper country Mum then? I'm a bit of Pseudo country mum. I've not done the cable tights yet - in danger of trunk comparisons if I go that way. The Hunters are not warm at all - I have the Hunter fleece welly liners - but they're a bit pap and I've resorted to buying those "heat holder" tog 4.0 socks which is so uncool but certainly take the edge off wearing wellies.
DeleteI need to get back to reading your M&S post. It looks good.
I think I might buy a waxed jacket...you look fab:)
ReplyDelete~Anne
Anne - I would have thought you would have had one! Now I tell you - you would work this look really well and carry it off with more conviction than me.
DeleteJust been catching up on your recent posts! You are so fortunate to live so close to this lovely area - I think I could manage that maze (or maybe not - I might still get very lost!) Such pretty Liberty fabric!
ReplyDeletehttp://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/
You can always climb out! It's going to take a few years before you stand a chance of getting lost in this one.
DeleteWhat a treasure of a place on your doorstop. I especailly loved how you wore the scarf. I think you pulled off a very classy country jacket and wellie look! If Im not careful, I end up looking like a tramp with my boots and jacket combined;)
ReplyDeleteThe bonus with the scarf is that it came free with the jacket! I remember thinking that I wasn't that bothered about the scarf when I was ordering the jacket but when it came, it was softer and nicer than I first thought and now I have to fight the Grumps for it.
DeleteHave a couple of Barbour jackets - but none with Liberty lining !!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics :-)
No worries - can't see it anyway :o(
DeleteI've just ordered a Barbour for Charlie, £30 more for the union jack lining but I got it anyway!
ReplyDeleteSharron - I wouldn't expect any less. It will look fab. First dibs when you want to sell it on!
DeleteYour kids are so cute. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd, btw, London mums on school run look exactly the same. Dressed for countryside even though there's no countryside for mileees. And they all drive 4x4. And clog traffic. I curse them. Ok, I'll go now...
Kristina - I love you. LOL. I hear you.
DeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE your barbour, the lining is beautiful - maybe you could wear inside out to show it off? I have this very outfit - a barbour & navy hunters I like to pretend I am one of the country set ;) x
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your new Liberty shower cap! I need one of those! Grumps and George both have the Navy Hunters - good call.
DeleteLove your post! Your kids are super cute! Barbour is considered very stylish in Greece for both men and women!
ReplyDeletexxx
Nina
http://trendsurvivor.com/
Aah - I didn't know that. I can't imagine you having much call for a Barbour but I don't know what the weather is like in the winter. I just know how extremely hot it gets in the summer - phew!
DeleteLovin your country look, and here was me thinking you were a city mum! I have hunters too they're great when u live in the country, means you can get stuck in without feat of getting dirty.
ReplyDeleteI'm a city girl in a suburban house on a suburban estate which was plonked next to some fields. I'm quite lucky in that despite it being quite rural here, I live 5 minutes walking distance from a train station which takes 15 mins to York and about 20/25 to Leeds so I get the best of all worlds. And I would definitely prefer pounding the pavements to hiking the hills.
DeleteLove the look Sue! You look fab….very country chic. You can't go wrong. I need a barbour and a pair of Hunters…I do have the 4X4 tho as I do actually live in the country. I NEED to go shopping for the rest :). Gorgeous photos - your boys are adorable x
ReplyDeleteIt was culture shock when I moved out to a cottage in the middle of nowhere about 12 years ago. I started looking at fleeces and boots straight away and thinking that I had to put away the heels. Any excuse for a bit of comfort. No longer in a cottage but still loving the comfort.
DeleteWow, yes I thought you were a City Mum too! You tie that scarf with the jauntiness of the French though - very chic and natural. Too warm here for a Barbour and it doesn't rain enough for gumboots (as we the Kiwis call them...) but I love both.
ReplyDeleteI would rather I didn't have to wear them - your climate seems so much more appealing somehow. I'm a city girl really - I don't get on much with the smell of nature (cow poo) when they are muck spreading.
DeleteI say you look rather chic there, country mama. Now if you're in NZ, you'll be looked upon as "totally posh". We wear sloppy gumboots and sweats tucked in especially in South Island. I have a Barbour jacket only because I nicked it from the hubs. Y'know the sayin' - what's mine is mine and what's yours is also mine? Well, it's mine now. I'm just missing the 4x4 and wellies (can't be uncouth to call them gumboots these days).
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to look chic in wellies/gumboots? It must be :o). Wish I could borrow stuff from the Grumps - the only thing we share currently is scarves - my Barbour scarf has an annoying tendency to "disappear". And that's a jolly good saying! I like it!
DeleteSue we are neighbours! I live in N Yorks too! This is a look I wear when (rarely) watching rugby matches in extreme weather! Love the local blog.
ReplyDeleteC
Hi Claire! No rugby watching for me (yet). Nice to have a local lass reading but please don't turn up in my school playground - the ground might just have to swallow me up there and then in embarrassment! I'm a tad shy and retiring. Honest.
DeleteHi my name is Nathalie & I work for Boticca.com. I was wondering if I could get in touch with via email re an opportunity? Thanks! Nathalie
ReplyDeleteHi Nathalie. By all means - my email address is princesstingting1@hotmail.com. Just drop me a note and I will get back to you via email. Thanks. Sue
DeleteLove those toadstools! And your jacket - perfect for a countryside picnic. x
ReplyDeleteThey are so cool those toadstools. Sometimes I forget what we have on our doorstep. We have conservation areas 5 mins and 10 mins away in either direction. I just wish I was more outdoorsy.
Delete