Scoop Adventures at Winter Garden Desserts: Where Sweet Treats Meets Science

Talk about dessert, that’s my favorite part of the meal being a self confessed sweet lover. But not just anything sweet will satisfy my cravings because I want something ultra fulfilling. 

When my friend Rodel, invited me to try this new ice cream store in town, I thought it would be the same old ice cream shops Ive been through…to my surprise, it wasn’t. Defintely, its more than just an ice cream store – it’s awesome!

Welcome to Winter Garden Desserts, my perfect wonderland in Katipunan area, where people can experience nitrogen desserts and find comendable home-made ice cream. Winter Garden’s concept was based on Kazahana, a meteorological phenomenon where snow ironically falls on a clear blue sky. 

Fall in love with the beauty and romance of snowflakes glittering in the sun with its stimulating blue toned walls -- simply perfect to experience the Kazahana. 

What makes them more than just an ice cream store? Watch them make ice cream from scratch in just two minutes! What’s more amazing? With the help of liquid nitrogen you instantly get the ice cream you are craving for.

According to studies, the liquid nitrogen at -321 degrees Fahrenheit helps in immediately freezing the ice cream with less ice crystals, creating a smoother and creamier blend compared to a regular ice cream store where it takes a first blast freeze and the use of a commercial freezer in order to freeze the ice cream that makes it grainier in texture with larger crystals. For Winter Garden Desserts, it’s the flash freezing that makes it the creamiest almost like a gelato. Now that’s Science!

Have a taste of their Sweet Treats:

Whoever said you can’t have campfires in the morning? Here’s Morning Campfire with toasted marshmallows, homemade cornflakes in flash frozen milky vanilla delight.

Rockin’ Rocky Road with its goooooeeyy, ooooeeyy, fudgy remake of your classic rocky road.

Omnomnom says Cookie Monster after gobbling up a whole lot of this butterliciously good cookies n’ cream.

This is your Grandma’s heirloom peanut butter ice cream recipe with healthy chunks of peanuts and peanut brittle. Its so good that you can actually Make Grandma Proud.

Italians will never say no to this Nociolla -- Nutella infused ice cream.

Sugar burnt to perfection blended with exotic Mediterranean sea salt. Sugars in the Sun that will undeniably combination will turn your passion into obsession.

Winter’s Breath Snow Blooms that will make you chant in Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Popcorns and Mallows, flash frozen for you.

Whatever they say, this picnic tray will make you play. Sweets and smokes!!! Smokes and sweets!!!

Nothing surely beats the chill of winter on a warm meal. So, what are you guys waiting for? Huff and Puff with the kids and the kids at heart as they will surely enjoy bonding at Winter Garden Desserts. .. and before I forget, price is very affordable… trust me its pocket friendy and student budget ;p

Visit Winter Garden Desserts now located at 299 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights (across Ateneo, beside National Bookstore, just behind Sango and Ersao). 

Open from 12nn to 10pm, Monday to Sundays.

Don’t forget to share your experience by using the official hashtag #wintergardendesserts

Life Lessons from Peter Drucker: Being Miss Independent & Miss Unstoppable

Peter F. Drucker (1909~2005) was one of the great thought leaders of our time, the man who coined the term knowledge worker, and is widely considered the father of modern management. His writings are so profound that now, one hundred years after his birth, he has a huge global following of people who want to understand and employ his principles for living. 

Drucker stressed on making the most of your leisure time, and of becoming a master or at least an amateur expert at something outside of your work. His vision for a fulfilled life included exercise, time for reading and thinking, teaching and learning, community involvement, time to create a legacy. 

Drucker embodied the importance of creating and living a “total life” with diverse interests, relationships, and pursuits; what he called “living in more than one world.” The idea is that when you have a setback in one area—suffering or surviving a layoff, for instance—you can soften the blow by developing other areas of strength and support. You can also add new meaning and dimensions to your life and, by getting involved with activities such as volunteer work, make a difference in the lives of others. 

The question is HOW DO YOU CREATE A TOTAL LIFE? Consider the following five key elements as exemplified by Drucker himself: 

1. Practicing self-development 
Self-development is a major theme throughout Drucker's writings and teachings. “What matters,” he said, “is that the knowledge worker, by the time he or she reaches middle age, has developed and nourished a human being rather than a tax accountant or a hydraulic engineer.” Think about your life, both as it is now and where you'd like to be. Consider not just your work, but also your family, friends, interests, activities, and pursuits. Assess what's working, what's not, and what you might want to add or subtract to create more satisfaction and fulfillment. 

By the age of 29, I have realized that although I graduated with a degree in Sports Therapy, I’m better of as a TV News and Sportscaster at the same time a Fashion Entrepreneur (which started out as a hobby for me). I realized that because of my petite size and being a female, I will not appeal as a Sports Therapist hence, I found something more exciting for me to do.

2. Identifying and developing your unique strengths The concept of core competencies may have been created for organizations, but today it applies to individuals as well. Drucker urged people to consciously articulate their own strengths. Consider what's unique about what you do, and in what areas you excel and contribute the most, both at work and outside of work. Focus on those strengths—your own core competencies—and find new ways to value and cultivate them. Odds are you can apply them to a variety of jobs, volunteer positions, and more. 

It was to my advantage that by the time I was still in college I became a TV Sportscaster (at the age of 19). Clearly it honed my skills in public relation and communications at the same time an area where I can flaunt my knowledge in Sports Injuries and Management while court side reporting. It was an honor for me to be chosen as the first TV Sportscaster without having to be a major in mass communications (thanks to the people from ABS CBN Sports, GMA NewsTV and UNTV who continuously gives me the opportunity to grow in this field). 

3. Creating a parallel or second career 
Drucker said, “The purpose of the work on making the future is not to decide what should be done tomorrow, but what should be done today to have a tomorrow.” One unique idea he advocated was creating a “parallel career” in areas such as teaching, writing, or working in nonprofit organizations. He also encouraged developing a second career, often by doing similar work in a significantly different setting—a lawyer, for instance, might move from a traditional law firm to a legal nonprofit dedicated to a personally meaningful cause. While still in your main job, start thinking about your own possibilities for a parallel or second career. Consider how to match your values, experience, and education, and what shifts you might need to make in your life to support such changes. 

After 10 years of being a TV Sportscaster and an Events Host, another opportunity came knocking on my door that paved way to the start of my first TV News Casting by the time I was 29. Undeniably, it was another adjustment from sports to news that motivated me to be well versed with what’s going on in the local and international field. It was a lucky break indeed and in between those years, I started a small business in the fashion industry just because it was something that I love to do… and perhaps passion for fashion was something innate in me. Aside from that, I had to feed myself with my love for travel…the very reason why I was urged to travel and experience the world (107 countries and still counting by the age of 29) and the main reason why I’m doing all these travel blogs (and blogs of all sorts).

4. Exercising your generosity 
An essential part of living in more than one world, Drucker believed, is displaying a sense of generosity. Here, he said, “…everybody is a leader, everybody is responsible, everybody acts.” Sharing your time and talents by getting involved in volunteerism, social entrepreneurship, and mentoring not only provide opportunities to contribute, but also offer personal benefits, from broadening and deepening your life experience to expanding your circle of friends and colleagues. Think about what happens outside your workplace—in other industries, professions, and walks of life—and consider ways you can exercise your own generosity. 

Well, I guess these travel blogs and other blogs that I’m doing says a lot of this c”,) Through my work in the media, fashion and travel industry I’m able to share and inspire people to pursue their dreams (not just one but as many as they can accomplish). If I were to describe myself, I’m proud to be Ms. Independent and Ms. Unstoppable (something that I have always been proud of).

5. Teaching and learning 
Education plays a key role in Drucker's vision of a strong, functioning society. He believed that knowledge workers should never stop learning. However, it's up to them, he said, to incorporate continuous learning as a natural part of daily life— deciding what and how they'd like to learn and determining how they'll build in the time. Consider your own priorities for learning, as well as how you learn best—taking classes, reading articles and books, asking or observing others, etc. You might also want to teach. As Drucker acknowledged, “No one learns as much as the person who must teach his subject.” 

As my philosophy in life goes: Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

If there’s anything more rewarding in life that is to keep challenging yourself to pursue all your dreams and Living a Total Life! 

And at this point, I dare you…. c”,)

7 Destinations-IN-1 Island: BALESIN!

Travel the World in this paradise in Quezon Province, Philippines called Balesin Island.  A destination of unmatched natural beauty, Balesin’s 7.3 km of pristine white sand beaches are only as stunning as its 190 hectares of virgin hardwood forest. Situated 21 kilometers southeast of Polillo, Quezon Province, it is just a 25-minute plane ride from Manila, yet is a world entirely unto itself. Balesin Island Club is your distinctive, members-only, private leisure getaway with 7 themed villages inspired by the most recognized and exclusive worldwide vacation spots of Mykonos, Costa Del Sol, Toscana, St. Tropez (one of my favorite places in the World), Phuket, Bali, and Balesin (which stands for Balete at Asin). 

the island from our plane

Come and join me unravel this eye-catching, Balesin Island…

Prudently deliberated by EcoPlan of Miami, Florida, USA, Balesin Island Club was designed with the environment in total harmony with its innate ambiance. Water harvesting, 80% water recycling, a reverse osmosis plant, on-site eco friendly transportation, organic farming, and alternative sources of energy reduce the amount of waste and ensure sustainable development on this beauty of an island – without scrimping on luxurious, top-notch facilities.

BALESIN stands for Balete at Asin

View from the Clubhouse

As mentioned, each village have its own superbly landscaped pool as well as a specialty restaurant which offers an array of gastronomic delights based on the theme of the village. All the villas are elegantly designed and garlanded, making available a panoramic landscape of the ocean and woodlands.

Balesin 
Balesin Village is your home away home, conveniently situated near the Clubhouse, Spa and Aquatic Sports Center. The Villas in Balesin features the best of Philippine home-grown architecture, craft, and design, combined with a modern twist. Spoil yourself with the exquisite Filipino cuisine, and stroll along the luxurious white sand beach it has to offer.

just love their interior in the clubhouse

Balesin Village Sala

just adore this haven thats why I had to take this shot c",)

beach front villa in Balesin overlooking the very stunning Lamon Bay

Balesin Village has been my favorite in this island considering the picturesque view it has to offer and need I say it houses, Sakura Restaurant where Chef Edo San’s Maki and Sake is  a must try!

Sake or Rice Wine in Japan

Chef Edo San's Maki (drools now...hahaha)

Bali
Bali Village is an enchanting community with its sheer natural beauty of its majestic volcanoes, beautiful white-sand beaches and lush terraced rice fields. The Villas represents its well-balanced composition of nature by means of tropical scenery settings, generous open spaces, water element and a patio with wooden decks. Pleasure yourself in stilt villas stretching above the cool waters of Lamon Bay and embrace the feel of villas set in paddies reminiscent of Ubud, Indonesia.

When in Bali

standing at the restaurant door of Bali Village

Mykonos
No one can go wrong in the vision of white and blue in Mykonos Village, where it is a striking paradigm of Cycladic cubic structural design located around a quaint fishing bay. It is to my amazement that this island ranks among the best known and most desirable vacation spot in the world. The Villas itself will give you a taste of Greece, right here in the Philippines. Allowing you to depict white-washed houses, blue windows and doors, winding streets, a Greek café, a sea grotto and rock bar. A magnificent place to watch the sunset at the bars and must try their roasted lamb and super rich chocolate mousse (drools now…haha)

roasted lamb, greek salad and their super rich chocolate mousse 

Mykonos Restaurant

Greecian Inspired Village in Balesin

Phuket
The “Pearl of the South”, a phrase justified by the large quantity of powdery white beaches, limestone cliffs, and crystalline, blue-green waters. Located on the southernmost part of the island, the Village is fitted with exotic villas fronted by a white sand beach or overlooking picturesque rugged cliffs above the sea

Costa Del Sol
Check out the South of Spain thru Costa del Sol Village. This is a world-renowned tourist spot, known as the "Sun Coast” and a sure spot where tycoons, aristocrats and film stars come to play and relax.  Live through the laid-back Southern Spanish charm through their Villas as you kick up your heels on the lovely white sand beach fronting it.  Must try their impressive Seafood Paella (good for 3 to 6 pax but the prices at any restaurant in the island is very reasonable… cheaper than some of the hotels in Manila)

inside Alhambra, one of their wine lounge area in Costa Del Sol

Saint Tropez

So good to be real, Saint Tropez remains to be my favorite destination in the World. Identified as a playing field for the affluent and Hollywood elite, St.Tropez is surrounded by white sandy beaches and enjoys a dazzling sunny climate. The Village is just stunning in colors combined with its impeccable service that makes a stay at this place truly etched in your mind. Patterned like a boutique hotel, the suites are stirred by the legendary Hotel Byblos. Bask in with your own private French Riviera and enjoy an authentic experience at our crêperie. One must try their duck confit, crepes and their classic French mussels in white wine sauce.

i want my office like this c",) with the comforts of wearing slippers :)

Toscana
Heading to Italy's west coast, stands one of the world's most trendy vacation destination. Still under construction during my visit but will surely bring romantic Tuscany to life. Expect the Village to offer you its finest Italian Gastronomy such as the Trattoria, where authentic Tuscan dishes will be served using the freshest ingredients.

Here’s a list of Amenities around Balesin Island (taken from their website)
• CLUBHOUSE
Main Floor
o 7 Two-Bedroom Unit Clubhouse Suites
o Reception
o Coral Bar
o The Clubhouse Lounge
o The Balesin Dining Room
o The Veranda
o Private Dining Rooms (Michelle's and Hannah's)
o Sakura Japanese Restaurant
o The Conference Room
o Viewdeck
o Balesin Sunset Sweets
o Balesin Music Lounge
Ground Floor
o Billiards and Table Tennis (Game Room)
o Joanna's Shop (Souvenirs and Sundries)
o E.L. Tordesillas Library
o Tabacalera Cigar Divan
o KTV Rooms (Mike's and Rannie's)
o Mahjong and Poker Rooms
o Function Rooms
o Salon and Barber Shop
o Internet Gaming/Business Center
o Wii© Room
o Locker Rooms (Male, Female & Children)
o Children's Indoor Playroom

Outdoor
o Lounge Pool
o 3 Outdoor Whirlpools
o Kiddie Pool
o Bars for Lounge Pool and Kiddie Pool
o Private Beach Cabanas
o Aquatic Sports Center

INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHAPEL
SPA
o Spa Suites
o Spa Pool
o Sauna
o Steam Bath
RESTAURANTS
Specialty Restaurants
o Greek
o Thai
o Italian
o French
o Spanish
o Indonesian
o Filipino
o Japanese
o Seafood

• AQUACULTURE
o Catfish
o Bivalves
o Green Mud Crab
o Grouper
o Lobsters
o Milkfish

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH CENTERS
o Organic Gardens
o Herb/Medicinal Garden
o Vermiculture

FULLY COVERED SPORTS CENTER
Indoor
o Basketball Court
o Tennis Court
o Badminton Courts
o Fully Equipped Gym
o Airsoft Target Shooting Range
o Rock Climbing Wall

Outdoor
o Basketball Court
o Tennis Court
o Paintball Shooting/War Games
o Golf Driving Range and Putting Green
o Archery Range
o Mountain Biking

AQUATIC SPORTS CENTER
o Windsurfing
o Sailing
o Waterskiing and Wakeboarding
o Snorkeling
o Kayaking
o Stand-up Paddle Boarding
o Deep Sea Fishing
o Boat Rental

THE STABLES
o Island Trail Ride
o Bullring
o Calesa Rides
o Horse Stables & Paddock

Balesin Spa

Balesin Spa Lobby

horse back riding by the beach

I couldn’t have enjoyed my trip to Balesin if not for these people who made me experience a holiday 180degrees from the ordinary: Debbie (Reservations Manager in Hangar Airport), Captain Joe (our pilot), Dadsie (Activities Director), Pipoy (who toured us around the island <<<I was just humbled that these brothers, Dadsie and Pipoy chooses to stay in this island despite being hacienderos>>>), the entire Activities Department, Vanessa (Manager of St Tropez Village), Cesar (Dining Room Manager of Costa Del Sol), Joy (F&B Staff at the Clubhouse), Alex (Dining Room Manager of Mykonos), Marco Diaz and the entire Balesin Staffs (sorry for those I forgot to mention their names… let me know and ill add you up on this blog… haha) 

These and more that Balesin has to offer and isn’t it just the perfect escape to everything and everyone?! There's so much photos to share but I hope this is enough for now as ill leave the rest to your imagination. 

Seeing Balesin makes me more certain that I live in the most exquisite country on the planet!  Undeniably beyond “fun and wow” not only for the place itself but for the exceptional staffs who delivers excellent service at all times!