Stars in my Coffee

About a month ago, i made a commitment to reach for 21 stars. And on the 27th, 4 nights shy of the coming new year, i completed all of them and earned myself my very first Starbucks planner!

Gee. Truth to tell, i don't remember feeling this thrilled and accomplished when i got hired by Bigfoot mid this year.

And it's not so much about the Starbucks planner really (though it's so, so nice). I haven't had a planner for years and I was just fine with it. I guess the rush came from the whole creative process of reaching for the stars one at a time.

The moment the cute waiter finally convinced me to accept the Starbucks card (which I snubbed the first time it was offered to me for FREE. sheesh.), I was a girl with a mission. I decided right then to make it my last goal for the year. I proceeded to connive, campaign and compete with other cardholder friends to have as many silver stars possible sticked on to my Starbucks card. I reached for my stars one at a time like a girl gone mad.

I drank so much Starbucks coffee the past month that I'm partly blaming it for exacerbating my weight gain (the rest I blame on mango float).

I don't usually like variety in my coffee (just black - no sugar, no cream) but the past month, I opened my world a bit and learned to appreciate the other flavors required.

And to think I've never been a Starbucks fan. I've always maintained (and still do) that Bo's brewed coffee is better -- in terms of taste and price. But the past month, I was all for Starbucks. So much so that I'm probably among the first to know that they just opened their third and newest branch at IT Park in Cebu.

Some may call me gullible. Others may consider this a waste of time and money. Perhaps.

One thing I'll admit -- it's one hell of a marketing strategy.

Besides, it was fun. Each accomplished star has its own story and that for me makes it all priceless.

I get to be a Holiday angel too as the planner comes with a donation made in my name to Project SparkHope (with the slogan: Enriching children's lives, one barangay at a time). Not bad.

I realize that all things can be made possible if you just focus your mind. And my cool Starbucks planner is one testament I'll carry through the coming year.

Happy 2007, everyone!