Little Miss Honey

BIRTHDAY STAYCATION AT BARCELO MUSSANAH RESORT

April 29, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

It was Howell’s birthday last March 9. The night before his birthday, we got him a cake. We sang him “Happy Birthday” and he blew his birthday candle. He is already 6 years old! We told the kids to sleep early because we are off to Mussanah, a little over 45 mins away from Muscat which totals 2 hrs and 45 minutes of driving from our place. We booked a stay at Barcelo Mussanah Resort for Howell’s birthday.

It was indeed a long drive from our place until we reached the resort. We were happily accommodated by the concierge and gave us our room card. Unfortunately, we learned that the floating island that we were excited to try out and the main reason why we wanted to visit Barcelo Mussanah was temporarily not open due to pandemic reasons. The surroundings was lovely and we were excited to explore the place but we headed to our room first.

We have lovely spacious room with King size bed and large office desk. There was a balcony overlooking the whole resort. There were maps of the resort in the room and we saw there are lot of amenities. They even have water sport activities, spa and fitness centre.

After we unpacked, we took our handy tripod with us to take some photos before the kids will swim in the pools. We took some family photos and explored the area. There were lots of people in the resort, enjoying the lovely weather and relaxing atmosphere.

We changed the kids into their swimming attire and they were just too happy going from the kiddy pool to the water park to the medium size pool. They played in the water until the sun faded in the horizon. They were playing the other kids who were there too.

Nightfall came and we headed back to our room. We shower the kids and we prepared for our dinner. We bought some takeout Chinese food. The kids were so hungry from all the playing around in the pool that they ate a lot during dinner especially Zeke who kept eating lot of the crispy fried chicken.

Our stay comes with free breakfast. We went down for our breakfast and opted to sit indoors because the place was packed and there were no seats available outside. The food, unfortunately, lacks variety and choices was not a lot. I settled with my usual vegetable omelette and salad while the kids had some cereals and bread.

After breakfast, we headed to the Children Play Area which is in another building. There were lots of things for kids to do there and we stayed there for a couple of hours. It was nice that they are an area for kids.

It was already midnoon when we packed our belonging and said goodbye to Barcelo Mussanah Resort. But we said we will definitely come back again.

Barcelo Mussanah Resort

Wudam Al Sahil Mussanah, 300 Sport City, 300

Phone: 26 871555

I GOT COVID!

April 26, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

I GOT COVID!!!

Last January, it was the morning of my husband’s birthday. Our family had a staycation in Crowne Plaza. I woke up from the soft comfortable bed of the hotel and I felt something different. I felt like I have this uncomfortable dry sensation in my throat that is often a sign that I will be getting a flu anytime soon. I also felt weirdly lethargic. I pass it off as probably those run-of-the-mill colds we often have from time to time. I don’t have any cough, runny nose or fever. This is definitely not COVID.

I got back to work on a Sunday but I was really feeling extremely tired. I have this persistent throat discomfort and very weird burning sensation in my nostrils. I still don’t have any cough, runny nose or fever. But whenever I got home, I just want to lie in bed and curl under the blanket. Since the manpower at work is low, I didn’t really want to take unnecessary sick leaves. I planned to take a Covid rapid test on a Wednesday when I am off duty. Results will be in immediately so if confirmed negative, I can g o back to work on Friday without even disrupting our duty roster. On Tuesday, I shared my symptoms with another nurse who said she is also feeling the same thing. She wanted to do a COVID rapid test. I told her if she is positive, surely I am positive too. I did the COVID rapid test for her. She came out POSITIVE. I said I am surely positive too considering we both have similar symptoms. At that time, I already have hoarseness of voice and mild runny nose. I did the rapid test and I was definitely positive. I was so surprised. I don’t have fever or cough but I was positive. I informed my boss and I went home immediately.

Where did I get it? I have been wearing mask all the time in public and at work. I practiced hand hygiene. I have my two dose of COVID vaccination plus booster. I was wondering. Was it from the windy day at Crowne Plaza that I got it? I was not wearing mask because we were about to go for a swim in the pool. Was it from a patient? Because I was assigned in Covid Clinic Duty the day before our staycation in Muscat. But nevertheless, I got it.

At home, I stayed isolated away from my husband and kids. I stayed in our kids’ room and they all stayed in the master bedroom. My husband would bring me food during meals. When I need to go out to help with chores because I don’t want to overburden my husband with childcare and chores. I would go out when all of them are in the room. I would be in gloves, mask, face shield while I cook or wash the dishes. I would, then, spray the kitchen and doorknobs when I was done. I did that for the next 7 days. Despite the isolation and my careful practice to avoid spread the virus in the household, my kids one by one, got sick. They all got high-grade fever and mild runny nose. But it didn’t last very long. It was just in 1-2 days and they were their energetic selves again. My husband was the last one who got it. He got fever and have this very uncomfortable cramps in both his legs.

During the course of my infection, I never had fever but what I have and what I really despised was this extreme tiredness that I couldn’t explain. I just wanted to sleep every two hours. I didn’t like the feeling because I was hoping being isolated in my room, I can at least be productive even if I am locked inside. But I didn’t have the energy. But what I have insatiable hunger. I expected to lose my appetite (and hopefully shed a few pounds as a positive effect from this horrible virus) but no. I wanted to eat and eat and eat. It is like my body needs lots of food to combat a monster inside.

Thankful after the 1 week quarantine, I was back to work again. The lethargy lessened one day after I got back to work.

It seems like majority of people have gotten the virus. I am glad I got the vaccine or else, my symptoms would be a lot worse. I still wear mask when I am in public even if Covid has lessens and the rules are more lenient. I don’t know if Covid will ever go away and we just have to accept that it may never go away, at least for now. Still be vigilant and careful, guys.

MY BEST SKINCARE AND MAKEUP PRODUCTS OF 2021

March 6, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

It is already March and I know writing this piece is kind-of late in the game but I am writing this anyway. I been seeing this type of content in Youtube and I have enjoyed it a lot. Content creators would share their favourite skincare and makeup finds for 2021. I could identify that skincare and makeup favourites can vary year after year though there will be products that will be stuck as the ultimate favourite or as we call it – Holy Grail.

I am so happy with my 2021 favourite skincare and makeup finds because I have finally found products that worked for me here in Oman. I arrived here in mid of 2019 and I have been struggling with acne, ezcema, hyperpigmentation and dryness due to harsh extreme weather and maybe adjusting to the new lifestyle. It was hard for me to find the products that work for me because most of the products I used in Singapore are not available here in Oman. It took numerous trial & error and my skin took a heavy beating from all that until I found products that worked for me.

So here they are, the best skincare and makeup products of 2021 according to Little Miss Honey:

BEST CLEANSER: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

For years I been using harsh, strong cleanser with salicylic acids or those with microbeads which kind-of worked for me before. I also learned that I am sensitive for micellar water. So any products that has micellar water can cause a bad reaction to my face. I decided to try again Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser which has helped me before when I also had a horrible acne breakout during my Family Medicine residency days. I love that it is mild and it didn’t aggravate skin at all. I realised I been using to many harsh ingredients in my face so I should keep a mild cleanser but still able to do the job.

BEST FACIAL EXFOLIANT: Sae Skincare 2% Exfoliator Salicylic Acid Lotion

Sae Skincare have been such a skin saver and such an amazing discovery for me. I am so happy I found this skincare line here in Oman online. I used to use Paula Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It is really my Holy Grail product. Unfortunately, it is hard to find Paula Choice here in Oman. I was so glad I found Sae Skincare Salicylic Acid. I managed my expectations when I tried it because I have used so many products already and my skin was at its worst. But I was so happy that in a month, I saw my skin gradually was improving. My cleared after two months and I am so grateful for this product. They also have a Salicylic Acid Peel.

BEST FACIAL OIL: Sae Skincare Intense Repare Skin-Perfecting Night Oil with Argan

I love facial oils! In Singapore, I used to buy a big bottle of jojoba oil and instill drops of essential oils in it. My skin love it! When I transferred here in Oman, I searched for good facial oils and even tried using the regular EVOO to my skin. Nothing works. Until I found this product from Sae Skincare and I am hooked! I love recommending this to friends because I love it so much. I apply this at night after duty.

BEST EYEBROW PENCIL: Faceshop Designing Eyebrow Pencil

I love eyebrow pencil from Korean cosmetic companies. Here in Oman, Faceshop cannot be found in most malls. Unlike in Singapore where there are numerous Korean cosmetic shop available. I am glad Faceshop has an eyebrow pencil similar to the one I buy in Singapore. I love the angle-shaped tip of the pencil and comes with a spoole. I use the Grey Brown colour. They are quite cheap too.

BEST FACE POWDER: Mac Studio Radiance Face & Body Sheer Radiance Foundation

Finding a perfect foundation can be so tricky and damn hard. There are so many variables that needed to work: the perfect shade for you, the perfect texture, the coverage, the wearability, if your skin reacts to it causing pimples and if it applies well to your skin. My favourite foundations were RMK and Lancome Teint Idole 24 Hr. There is no RMK here. There is a Lancome products here unfortunately, there are lack of shades available here. For sheer daily wear face base, I used to use Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer or Laneige Pore Control Cushion Foundation. There is a Laura Mercier booth in Oman and I did buy their newly formulated Tinted Moisturizer Skin Perfector. Though it works fine, the weather here is so hot that it doesn’t stay in place. The wear is too sheer that it doesn’t cover well skin imperfections and applying to much face powder on top makes my skin so cakey after few hours. Laniege, unfortunately, is not available here in Oman.

After hearing so many good reviews of Mac Studio Radiance Face & Body Sheer Radiance Foundation, I decided to try it and I love it! I love that it gives you this glowy sheer and the coverage is buildable. I am so happy that I found the perfect shade too. Because sometimes, you find a good foundation but the problem is there are no shades for me. I always have trouble finding a perfect shade for me. I am glad there is shade in Mac Radiance Face & Body that suit me. I use the C3 shade.

BEST LIPTINT: Faceshop Water Fit Lip Tint

When I discovered lip tint, I almost turned away from lipsticks. I used to use EtudeHouse Lip Tint. Too bad there is no EtudeHouse shops here in Oman. But good thing, I found a good lip tint in Faceshop. I use the Water Fit Lip Tint in colour 05 Cherry Kiss.

BEST CONCEALER: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

I have always preferred creamy concealer in pots like the Cinema Secrets or Benefit Boeing Industrial Strength concealer. There are Mac stores here so I thought I could go back to the Mac Studio Fix Concealer that are in black pots. I used to use that before and I would even go to Manila to buy that concealer specifically until I discovered Cinema Secrets. I used to use the shade 35 but it is always or even never available in Mac stores. So I looked for another option. I tried the Maybelline Fit Me in shade 25 and I love it!

BEST HIGHLIGHTER: Faceshop Hydro Cushion Highlighter

I love a glow on the skin. I usually apply highlighter on some pints of my skin for that healthy glow. i use to apply this face base cushion from Etude House which crates a natural glow on skin. I tried Mac Strobe cream but it didn’t work for me. Im glad I found this in Faceshop. I apply it on the bridge of my nose, high points of my cheeks, above eyebrows and inner corners of eyes.

Hope you enjoyed me sharing my favourite skincare and makeup products of 2021. Can you share your 2021 favourites too?