Little Miss Honey

TRADITIONS WE STOPPED DOING DURING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

January 18, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

Year-end winter holiday celebrations like Christmas and New Year have accumulated some accustomed traditions in several households, ours included. When we were younger, my mother have started lovely traditions during Christmas and New Year. On Christmas eve, we often go to church for a evening mass then when we go home we would be told to sleep because Santa Claus is coming and he doesn’t want to see kids awake. The adults will be busy in the kitchen. I would hear clanks and banging of kitchen pots, a cheerful chatters from the elders with a booming sound of Christmas songs from the speakers of our sound system. When we (the kids) are woken up a little pass 12 midnight for our Noche Buena (Christmas feast) followed by opening of presents. Our mother would often give us loads of gifts for Christmas. She would even wrapped even the tiniest gifts separately because she enjoy seeing us open our gifts. We will also check the socks we hang in the window for Santa to fill with goodies, usually with an apple, chocolates and candies. I would keep that sock filled sweets in a shoe box and I would slowly eat them for weeks after the festivities.

During New Year eve, we often lit noisy firecrackers and beautiful sparklers. We have a houseboy at home that took care of lighting up the firecrackers and sparklers for our safely. We often have 12 fruits displayed on a container on top of the dining table for New Year that represents abundance for the next 12 months. My mom just loves our reaction when we open gifts during Christmas so we don’t open all the gifts we got in Christmas and we save it for New Year’s Eve. My mom would often add more for New Year’s Eve.

My hubby’s Christmas traditions involved a big party with his family and the whole clan with lots of games, gift-giving and lots of laughter. He talked fondly of this memories of those parties.

Now that I have my own family, we tried to incorporate some of the traditions we have been accustomed to and made new ones. However, out of necessity, the current circumstances we are all experiencing now and practicality, there are some traditions we have stopped doing during Christmas and New Year.

Here are 5 traditions we stopped doing during Christmas and New Year:

1. Big holiday parties

Because of the pandemic and practicality , we opted for staycations over big holiday parties. We prefer to chill & quiet (me especially) over loads of preparation and more loads of clean up after the party. It is not easy to do big parties even small parties without a helper and with three active young kids. Honestly, I just can’t manage. So we rather book a good budget hotel for Christmas or New Year. Maybe we book reservations for a Christmas buffet or maybe a good Christmas or New Year Eve dinner would be just great. We still attend fun Christmas parties with our friends here over at their homes and exchange gifts days before Christmas.

2. Gifts

My hubby and I have already promised ourselves when we were still living in Singapore, in order to save, we decided to only give gifts to each other on our birthdays. So we don’t give gifts to each on Christmas, New Year, anniversaries and Valentines. So no gift-giving between my husband and I are already a given.

Previously, during Christmas, we would give one gift from Santa and one gift from us to our kids. A few Christmas before, I would add lots of little knick knack gifts for the kids. But I realised that kids received lots of gifts from our neighbours too for Christmas. Toys and stuff accumulate and we realised that they start taking their stuff for granted with the massive collection of toys and items. We decided a gift from Santa is enough for us. It is also economical. We prefer to expose them more to experiences instead as well as teach them the value of taking better care of the things given to them.

3. Christmas stocking filled with sweets

I used to enjoy this tradition so much. I love opening my shoebox filled with sweets. But now with my kids, we try to minimise their sugar consumption. We often keep the socks away from them and give them their sweets sparingly throughout the weeks. It would literally take months before they can finish their stocks. Plus we already have a stock of chocolates in our fridge which we eat occasionally for dessert. So we thought we get rid of the stockings filing with sweets because it is totally encourage sugar addiction. They barely even realised they didn’t get it from Santa.

4. Opening presents on Christmas Eve

In our household when I was young, we often open gifts on Christmas Eve but now with my kids, my hubby suggested that the kids open their gifts when they wake up in the morning of Christmas. It makes the kids excited for the morning of Christmas.

5. Twelve fruits for the New Year

We don’t buy 12 fruits for New Year for abundance. It seems like a superstitious practice. I rather pray and work for abundance & prosperity for the New Year rather than relying on fruits for my luck.

Another practice we will probably stop for New Year are firecrackers and massive sparklers. Here in Oman and before in Singapore, we never do it because it is prohibited. But if we are in the Philippines, I would like those firecrackers too because it is quite unsafe.

So there you have it, the 5 traditions we stopped doing during Christmas and New Year. Do you have traditions you decided to stopped too?

Some Christmas tradition I am keeping is attending mass to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ though I do it online now. I also want next time to buy a cake for Christmas for Jesus’ birthday and sing a Happy Birthday song with the kids. For New Year, I still do my New Year’s resolution, of course. It is one of my favourite traditions of all time.

STARTING THE NEW YEAR AT ROYAL TULIP HOTEL MUSCAT

January 14, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

For New Year, we have earlier booked a stay in Hilton Garden Inn but last minute, we found a good deal to book in a new hotel we been meaning to book for a few occasions, but we never got to, which is at Royal Tulip Hotel. It is a fairly new hotel at Al Ghubrah Street, nearby Oman Avenues Mall. We were glad we decided to book there instead. It is located in a busy part of the city. The parking lot, however, is very small and narrow but it is forgivable with the beautiful amenities of the hotel.

The Christmas atmosphere was still very much alive in the hotel with its beautiful Christmas tree in their hotel lobby. They are also have a lovely gingerbread house in a corner. I love that their hotel lobby is so well-lit and spacious .

When we got to our room, we did our traditional family photo in our room. After we had several pictures, we checked out the room.

We were so impressed with the size of the room and the very space-saving fixtures they placed in the room – from the lights, to the drawers, TV and cabinets with such a budget-friendly price. There is a big desk, a large TV, a small refrigerator, a small sofa chair and large King-size bed. There is no balcony but it was fine. We love that the room already has complete utilities like the iron board & iron, blow dryer attached at the bathroom wall and complete toiletries unlike some hotel we recently stayed at, which required us to call them to ask for such things.

The bathroom has a small bathtub which makes the kids and I so happy. We love bathtubs and bubble baths! Though I realised now that the kids are growing, the kids and I couldn’t fit in the bathtub already. But the kids keep insisting that they want bathe and play in the tub together with their mommy. Besides the toilet, the bathroom has a bidet too. Quite impressive!

After fixing our stuff and resting for a bit, we went to Oman Avenues Mall to roam around and have snacks. We enjoyed the delicious coffee buns at Pappa Roti. We also bought some take out buns for our breakfast the next day. We headed back to the hotel to rest a bit before our New Year’s Eve dinner.

For dinner, we decided to go back again at D’Arcy’s Kitchen. It is located in the lively spot in Al Shatti Qurum near the beach. We were initially worried if we can get a parking spot because there was quite bit of traffic going there. But just like that, when we drove into the parking lot, there was car that drive off and we got a parking spot instantly. We were so lucky! Is that a good sign of our luck for 2022? I hope it is.

In the restaurant, we wanted to sit outdoors to enjoy the atmosphere. J ordered the Steak as usual. I tried their Stuffed Chicken and the kids got two orders of the kiddie pancake meal which they really enjoyed. What we also like in the restaurant was that they provided the kids some papers and coloured pencils for them to colour. The kids were busy colouring while waiting for our foods, sitting al fresco.

After a satisfying dinner, we strolled to the beach but slowly, it began to drizzle. Then eventually a downpour of rain. So we shortened our walk and headed back to our car and head back to the hotel to rest.

The next morning, I woke up a little earlier than everybody. So I got my new notebook I bought in Yoyoso and my trust Swarovski pink pen to bring with me behind the the curtains and made my gratitude for the Year 2021 and my goals for 2022. When I was done, my kids slowly woke up and had their Pappa Roti buns for breakfast with me.

I will share with you soon how I make my previous year’s gratitude list and my goals for the New Year. I hope you all have a lovely New Year celebration too.

Happy New Year everyone!

Royal Tulip Hotel

Address: Al Marafah Street, Way No. 238, Al Ghoubra North103 Muscat, Oman

Booking: (+33) 1 70 98 61 18 / +968 2 2125555

Email Address: info@royaltulipmuscat.com

THE BEST GUIDE TO A GIRLS’ TRIP TO VIENNA

January 12, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

When thinking of going on a trip with your closest girls, one of the most important decisions is where you will go. And there are plenty of cities all over the world that would make for a memorable getaway with your ladies! One of the destinations that should be on top of your list is Vienna. The capital city of Austria, Vienna is among Europe’s most prominent cities because of its rich history and strong cultural heritage.

While the city’s past is still evident, Vienna has evolved so much over the years to keep up with its growing popularity. For you and your girlfriends, Vienna is the perfect place to relax, take in some culture, eat great food, and do other fun things. If you want to have an unforgettable time, check out this list of things to do on a girls’ trip to Vienna. (Pro tip: To avoid having to drag around heavy bags or backpacks with you, look for a luggage storage locker in the city and deposit your items there).

Top Things to Do in Vienna with the Girls

Vienna offers plenty of opportunities for fun and adventure with your gal pals. Below are some of the exciting and girly things to do in Vienna with your best ladies:

Check out the markets.

If there’s one thing that travelers absolutely love to do, it has to be shopping. Luckily, there is no shortage of retail options in the city of Vienna. For an authentic Viennese shopping experience, ditch the big boutiques and malls and go for the markets instead. Some of the best markets in the city include:

Naschmarkt: This is the biggest and most popular market in the city where a multitude of local and international specialties await. The market also offers culinary delights from all over the world.
Karmelitermarkt: Located near Schwedenplatz, just a couple of minutes away from the Old Town, this market has different stalls and local vendors selling fresh produce and other ready-to-eat goods.
Brunnenmarkt: Situated in Yppenplatz Square, this is Vienna’s largest food market, with over 170 stalls that sell vegetables, meat, fish, and even exotic spices.
Mondscheinbazar : This seasonal bazaar features 200 exhibitors who present their art, antiquities, fashion pieces, and more. For a small entrance ticket, you can enter the market and see the different items being sold here.

Go museum hopping with the girls.

As one of the most historic and culturally-rich cities in Europe, Vienna has a host of top-rated museums and galleries that you and your girls should include in your itinerary. Some of the ones you shouldn’t miss are:

Kunsthistorisches Museum: This fine art museum is one of the best in the world, housing numerous works of art and treasures acquired by the Habsburgs. Here, you will find the biggest collection of Bruegels as well as artworks by the likes of Canaletto, Anthony van Dyck, and Gustav Klimt.
Natural History Museum Vienna: Located just across from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, this facility currently has on display nearly 30 million individual items and artifacts related to natural history. Highlights include the oldest and biggest meteorite collection in the world as well as the Venus of Willendorf, a statue of Venus said to have been around since 30,000 B.C.
Leopold Museum: Found in the prominent MuseumsQuartier in the city, the Leopold Museum boasts an array of pieces created by Gustav Klimt and is home to the world’s largest collection of works by Viennese artist Egon Schiele.
MAK – Museum for Applied Arts: This museum, housed in a neo-Renaissance building, also doubles as an exhibition space for all things design. The exhibits have everything from furniture, textiles, glass, china, and other items that existed between the Middle Ages and the present day.

3. Watch a live performance at the Vienna State Opera.

Austria is synonymous with music and opera. After all, it is the birthplace of some of the world’s most celebrated musicians such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss. Located in the capital is one of the top opera houses in the world – the Vienna State Opera. This 19th-century building, which will definitely catch your eye with its bright lights and stunning exteriors, is a performance space as well as the headquarters of the world-renowned Vienna State Ballet.

At the Opera House, more than 350 live performances are held throughout the season featuring over 50 different companies. The shows here are predominantly opera or ballet productions. Take your ladies for a night out and soak up some of the city’s culture by buying a ticket to one of the numerous live events held at the Vienna State Opera

4. Check out the hip bars in the city.

No girls’ trip to anywhere would be complete without grabbing the chance to relax, unwind and have a few drinks with your best friends. Fortunately, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to nightlife options in the “City of Dreams”.

Even though Austria is famous for its spritzers, the local drinking scene in the capital has plenty more to offer – from wines and beer to trendy cocktails. Some of our top picks on where to go for a drink when in Vienna are:

5. Walk the famous Ringstrasse.

You and your girlfriends cannot leave the city of Vienna without strolling the iconic avenue known as the Ringstrasse, also called Ring Road. Constructed in 1857 during the reign of Franz Joseph I, the grand boulevard was meant to highlight the best architecture borne out of the Habsburg Empire.

The 6.5-kilometer-long street is lined with exotic trees, botanical gardens, and historical landmarks. As a matter of fact, the Ringstrasse is home to a number of the top attractions in Vienna, including the Imperial Palace, the Hofburg Palace, the Parliament Building, the National Library the National History Museum, Vienna State Opera, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Spending one afternoon strolling the Ringstrasse is not only a chance to hang out, but it is also one of the best ways to go sightseeing.

Sources:

https://www.vienna-unwrapped.com/vienna-travel-tips-for-ladies/

https://girlsgetaway.com/2013/07/top-10-girlie-things-to-do-in-vienna/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/austria/vienna/articles/vienna-travel-guide/

https://www.her.ie/life/vienna-bucket-list-9-things-must-see-city-dreams-331758

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/vienna

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/austria/vienna

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/europe/austria/vienna/

https://travel.usnews.com/Vienna_Austria/