Staying Alive

I cannot remember i sat down at our pretty little desk that didn't involve a credit or debit card.  Lately has just been crazy and fast and hectic and it has felt like all the days, hours and weeks have just merged into one.  That is the joy of working in retail at this time of year.  Despite how fast i know Christmas comes and what is involved, i somehow get surprised and are un-organised each year.  This year i excelled myself by having all of my Christmas cards sorted and putting far far too much thought into wrapping and colour schemes and flipping ribbon!  Damn you Pinterest! After two days off in row (SUCH A DIFFERENCE) and chain-drinking hot chocolate from costa like it is going out of fashion, i finally feel like Christmas is coming together and i am enjoying myself.
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I have missed being here and sharing my little snippets and reading all my favourite blogs - i cannot remember the last time i did that either!  But that shall have to wait for a bit.  I hope you shall bear with me in this extra busy time! I cannot thank you all enough for stopping by here and for all your lovely comments.  I wish we could all go for Christmas hot chocolate together.  So i am sat poised with a huge floral mug of camomile and honey tea and my Christmas playlist tinkling away, ready to show you what's been going down when i haven't been 'elfing' along at Monsoon Towers…
GOOD mornings.  Getting up when its dark is the hardest thing in the world.  Breathtaking sunrises and breakfasts in only the light of the Christmas tree make it almost bearable.  I have been squeezing in an extra cup of lady grey tea and staying in my pyjamas right until the very last second.  
Making the very most of later starts and the last couple of days off.  Usually mornings are dark, cold and the Mr is fast asleep when i have to sneak out of bed at 'silly o'clock'.  A quick trip from under the duvet to flick on the heating and the kettle and enjoy a lazy cup of lady grey in bed as the sunrises, with a lovely CUDDLE too, means the world on a rare lie-in.  I flipping love being in bed in my pyjamas with a cup of tea, it's the best feeling.  
An UNEXPECTED but thoroughly satisfying colour combination.  I love it when a plan comes together.  There is nothing that makes me happier than bright colours and prints that shouldn't really work (READ: ALL OF MY OUTFITS) but just DO.  Loving teaming my new Boden spotted pinafore with the softest fluorescent tartan birthday present scarf.  Layers and layers for icy blustery bike rides.  

BUNDLING up in barest of parks with the blustery-ist wind.  I am seasonal cheat.  I swore in Autumn that this park was at its prettiest.  I also did this in Spring and Summer.  Now it is Winter for sure, and i have fallen for it all over again.  Everything is so bare and i just love all the different trees and branches and their beautiful grey (OR SOMETIMES BLUE!) cloud sky canopy.  As long as i have a scarf and mittens and something nice to play in my ears, i am a pretty happy bunny.  
A cheeky TRANSITIONAL treat or two.  It is at his time of year when we start to see some transitional Spring pieces drop into Monsoon Towers and as i usually have birthday money burning a hole in my tweed pockets, i can never help myself! I know i shall wear both these beauties to death now and when Spring rears its pretty little head.  I treated myself to a very William Morris-esqu printed silk long sleeve dress and a chunky folky embroidered statement cardigan which is so very pretty.  I have been wearing the cardigan around our little somewhere with the softest well-worn white tee and faded printed skinny jeans.  I cannot wait to team the dress with my rose pink oversized cardigan, woollen tights and my fringed tan cowboy boots.  

Sticking down Christmas on my latest festive-inspired MOODBOARDS.  Please excuse the grainy photos in the next few.  Most of my life is spent in darkness lately and taking photos by Christmas tree/lamplight is not the best!  I adore these mood boards so very much.  I love the idea of a slick of red lipstick on Christmas day - that's what i shall be rocking, whether i am in my jeans or not!  I also can never get enough of a fair-isle knit - whether that's on socks, scarves or hats, anything will do.  I have also been loving the festive look books dropping through our little letter box lately.  They have been devoured and are slowly finding their way on to my little boards. 
SPOTTING Santa Claus on the greyest, gloomiest and wet wander from the royal mail sorting office.  Lately it feels as if i have been living between Monsoon Towers, costa and the sorting office.  This little sight made me smile cheek to cheek.  I wanted to wave back.  But then i realised it might receive a funny look or two more than i am used to!
 


Pre-Christmas shopping breakfast fuel with the Mr - Toasted panattone with lots of butter and a festively-dusted COFFEE.  Then we (I?) have been spending our evenings decorating that tiny little devil, enjoying our first bottle of MULLED wine (which may or may not have resulted in a slightly fragile me the day after, after adding a glug too many of the Mr's delicious Jura whisky) and our first mince pie of the festive season.  This time last year i think we had jointly kept M&S food-hall afloat with the bottles of mulled this and that and various Christmas pies and pastry delights.  We are a bit late to the party this year, but somehow it hasn't felt cold enough?!?  We are diving in head first from now on the make up for it!
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In other news…*i am not so much looking forward to the present opening on Christmas day but just seeing all of my family actually on Christmas day this year, i cannot remember the last time that happened! *Feeling smug at finishing all of the Mr's (READ:  HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MANKIND) Christmas presents but wishing i had endless amounts of money to spend even more on all the people that mean the world to me. I know it's not about how much you spend, but i just love the feeling of spoiling everyone and making them feel special.  *Getting far too excited at the prospect of starting to WRAP everything.  Wrapping is most certainly one of the very best parts. I love to spend ages finding the sweetest most perfect EVERYTHING to make it all look beautiful.  I don't care if you all tear it off and throw it all away in a jiffy. Know that i have loved making it look like that.  *Feeling especially loved.  I always think that Christmas is a time for making an effort with everyone and not being angry no matter how busy, stressed, noisy or hectic it all gets in the run up to that big day. 

Afterall it is not really about the presents, fuss and fluster it all causes (TELL THAT TO MY WRAPPING PAPER!) it is about showing the people closest to you that they mean the world to you.  

Are you all feeling festive too?  I think it has finally got to me.  Hang in there with me over the next few weeks as i may not get back here before the big day!  Rest assured you can always find me over on twitter or instagram if you miss me too much.  Just search 'Sallytangle'.  There is only one Me.  I hope!!

'MERRY CHRISTMAS' and huge big love and hugs to each and every one of you!