The Holiday Season is my favourite time of the year. It is a time to embrace family traditions but most importantly it brings friends & family together. It is wonderful mixing the young with the matured members of the family.

Decorating our home for the holiday season starts early in Singapore. I enjoy the sense of excitement and anticipation that it creates amongst the family. 

Chocolate coated strawberries, Red Amaryllis flowers, bowls of mixed berries & champagne –It always makes everyone happy!

The lead up to the holidays is busy and music for me is a key ingredient – less on the cheesy Christmas songs and more uplifting toe-tapping tunes – Bossa Nova Covers & Acoustics does the trick!

In our household it is all about the Christmas Stocking. No matter if your 24 years old or 4 years old it is the highlight. Funny gifts, thoughtful gifts – a lot of effort goes in to a stocking. 

Every year my gift to my husband is a photo album which contains a recap of the year gone. The big highlight is who made the cover which is only revealed on Christmas morning. It is a wonderful book as it makes everyone appreciate the good times that we have had together even if it has been a particularly tough or challenging year.

As my family has matured, Christmas Day has becoming increasingly difficult to bring everyone together. Last year, I embraced the European tradition of celebrating on Christmas eve. The evening kicks off at 5pm with the Children’s nativity mass at the local church followed by canapes and dinner.

Each year I like to incorporate elements from your travel in terms of the food, decorations or music you discover. My new favourite are Spanish peppers fried in lemon oil, covered in sea salt. Music from the DJ at the Beefbar in Mykonos to set the tone of the evening.

I also love to include pieces inherited from my family.

Christmas day starts at 5am with the squeals of delight from the children but the remainder of the day is relaxed at the beach – a light food option of fresh prawns, sashimi & oysters, followed by a much loved viewing of “Love Actually”.

Here are our top picks to entertain this holiday season.

Enjoy the festive season.

Nina  
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