Starbucks Drive Thru

Starbucks Coffee is set to open it's drive thru branch in Fort Bonifacio on Wednesday, November 24.  As it maybe the only branch in the Philippines that will offer coffee on the go, it turns out that it's not the first one in Asia (Malaysia opened it's first Starbucks drive thru December of last year, see here).

Photos courtesy of Starbucks Philippines Facebook site.  Read more...

Starbucks Planners

Like I mentioned in my earlier post, I've been collecting Starbucks stickers from December of 2005. Just about right that I make use of the planner that I get out of collecting, right?


I don't only use the planners, I tend to abuse them as well. I like listing everything I'm about to do everyday, as well as put in the things that unexpectedly happened at the end of the day. Sometimes when I'm hanging out alone, I use the planner to write my thoughts. Consequently, I made this year's planner semi-scrapbook-like (i.e. pasted photos and movie/play tickets).


Starbucks Planner 2006


Starbucks Planner 2007


Starbucks Planner 2008


Starbucks Planner 2009

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7 Days, 2 Cards, and 15 Stickers

My "wish" for a Starbucks 2010 Planner...


... came true early this morning.



Snow and Ken inspecting the planner's coupons inside pages

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Red Is In

... in Starbucks coffee branches, that is.


It's that time of the year when everywhere you look, you see red (i.e. from tumblers to mugs to paper cups to (overhead) menus to barista shirts). I'm not too keen with this year's paper cups design and I can't help but miss last year's design. But I digress. This also means that the promo cards to be used to collect stickers for the Starbucks Limited Edition Planner are out. This year, one has to purchase 9 featured holiday beverages and 8 other beverages of your choice. The three featured holiday drinks (Dark Cherry Mocha, Toffee Nut Latte, and Peppermint Mocha) aren't really new and are just making a comeback.

As for the planner... We've had a look and feel of the planner and have come to say this: I like it that I cannot decide which cover design to choose. If last year, we were given 3 colors (red, blue, and black) to choose from. This year, we are given 3 cover designs (coffee bean plant, coffee beans roasting, and an espresso shot) to decide on. In addition, each cover has it's own texture as well (rough, knotted surface for the coffee beans roasting shot, sanded leather-like for the coffee bean shot, and velvety sking for the espresso shot). The planner comes with coupons (6 of these), very much like that of 2006's. It's light and handy, so there's no problem with me carrying it around. Checking the insides, it looks as if it's based on a business-type planner. It's not a good thing for me because I like a journal-type since I like listing down my things-to-do and writing down thoughts here and there. Other than that, I'd say this planner passes my taste.

Red... Peppermint Mocha... Planner closeup look. Hmm.. Could be why I am on a high today?

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Red Cups in About 3 Days

Only a few more days before we see those red cups (for hot drinks) and taste those featured holiday drinks once again. Also, I hear there will be new food offerings starting November 4, too.

Most importantly, it's only a matter of 3 days before we see Starbucks' 2010 Planner. (By the way, that, there on the image above is one of the covers we will be seeing for this coming year's planner. It seems it's going to be a notebook-type the 3rd time around. *yey for me*).

So while I wait, let me enjoy some of what are available for now... :)

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That Starbucks Christmas Tradition

By now, most people are probably waiting for Starbucks to officially introduce the holiday drinks as well as release the promo cards needed to get that much coveted 2010 Starbucks Planner. Based from the barista I asked, it will be on November 4. So, 10 days from now, people will start scrambling to drink the featured drinks just to have the planner. At the same time, it's also this time when some people would smirk and think what a capitalist ploy this is. Yes, it only applies here in the Philippines (apparently, Starbucks in other countries do not have this kind of promo).

You can actually put me in the group that's trying to complete whatever number of stickers are needed to have the planner as a 'reward'. I started December 2005 and got the 2006 Starbucks planner as my first.
Truth be told, I really don't think I'm wasting money on something that can be bought cheaper if it's another brand because I'm a Starbucks patron after all - either me and my friend/officemates have our break there or i spend time alone at a nearby branch.

I actually enjoy comparing and using the planners every year. Among the planners I got, I still like 2006's the most. It's not bulky. It's not heavy. And it's more of like a notebook. Add to that, it had coupons with it. Planner for 2007 was what I didn't like the most because although it looked more chic, it takes a toll to carry it all the time (required me to carry a durable bag as well). 2008's planner is slimmer and lighter but I have complaints regarding the paper since it's not thick and I can't use my colored gel pens to write on it. I kinda like this year's planner as it kind of resembles 2006's, just that I didn't like the colors that much (the black one looked like a Bible and the blue one looked like a record book that's why I chose the red).

I'm hoping the planner for next year will be easy to lug around as I bring mine everyday and everywhere. Cute designs plus quality paper would be ideal, too. Anyone from Starbucks who can read this? :)

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