by Lori Baltazar
It sits there in its subdued yet elegant glory, its cocoa brown leather cover interrupted only by a strap striped in brown, green, and white. Gleaming from the counter, it’s the object of desire for all those who come close, the main reason why countless people will chug down more cups of coffee this month than they usually do. In the same way, if I drink enough coffee and ingest enough caffeine to keep myself wired all throughout the holiday festivities, this will be my reward.
The thing to covet this season is none other than the Starbucks 2008 Planner. Don’t ask me how ”“ and for Pete’s sake, don’t ask me where ”“ but I’m able to get my dessert-stained hands on one. Clutching my prize close to my chest, I run and hole myself up in someplace private. If I’m seen with this, things could get ugly. (Fight, fight, fight!)
Safely ensconced, a demitasse cup of homemade cappuccino con panna beside me (with red sprinkles for that Christmas sparkle), I run my fingers down the planner, relishing the leather’s smooth coolness. I bring it to my nose and inhale deeply, a combination of suede, leather, and paper fills my nostrils, and excitement builds inside me as I open the planner. I don’t realize that I’ve been holding my breath.
I hear the bronze ring binder crack in its newness as the pages are turned. I’m discovering the treasures that each page contains. I smile when I see a photo of the very first Starbucks opened 10 years ago at 6750 in Ayala Center, Makati. A few weeks later, I would be married. This year, 2007, Starbucks and I are both celebrating our 10th year anniversaries. December 4, 2007 (tomorrow!) on the planner has an illustration of a birthday cake with a candle on it.
There’s a fold-out page with “Come In” in several languages, and a thought provoking “Maybe you have a Starbucks you call your own,” quote atop the next page. “Hmm,” I think, “I do have one: Starbucks Jupiter.” A full-page photo heralds every new month, highlighting important dates and holidays, and the contemplative “life happens over coffee” quote is on each page.
My fingers begin to itch. I want to grab a pen and start writing on the thick and untarnished paper. The writer in me really can’t be tamed for very long.
Descriptive excerpts detail the care that go into the coffee, as well as fascinating photos of people that make this coffee place what it is. My favorite photo is that for September (see above), a spread of various milks and syrups to customize hundreds of drinks and the saying, “Happiness is in your choices,” scrolled atop. How true.
As I sip my (now cold) cappuccino con panna, I mull over the 21 stickers I’d need to get one of these planners. The stickers correspond to 9 Starbucks featured Christmas beverages while 12 are for my Starbucks beverage of choice: that’d be a cup of ¾ hot brewed coffee+ ¼ hot milk, a quasi Misto, if you will). I gag inwardly ”“ no way I could drink all that, I’d be wired until Easter.
But then… the planner is part of Project SparkHope, a collaboration of Starbucks and UNICEF that benefits pre-school kids all over the country. A donation is made for every planner that’s redeemed. After all, when one gives, one gets back. Holding this planner in my hands sends a rush of excitement through me: what will the new year bring?
Time to find out.
Getting up, I wipe my hands on the back of my jeans. I close the planner and carefully slide on the elastic strap. I need to bring this back to where I “got” it from. (Tee hee). And it’s time to start drinking lots (LOTS!) of coffee. I want this Starbucks 2008 planner.
Additional notes:
In celebration of their 10th year, Starbucks customers can double their planner stickers on December 4-7 at these times: 12:30-2pm and 8-9:30pm. Ask your barista for details.
Actually, it’s 12 Christmas drinks and 12 regular this year. Plus, unlike in previous years, you can’t have your receipt stamped and get your sticker later if you don’t happen to have your card. I wonder why, though.
I’ve three special and nine regular now. I’m halfway there!
i’m almost there. Just 5 more christmas drinks/stickers to go. Since i’m more into capucchino, i just get the venti one which counts for 1 christmas drink although i get the short mint mocha once a week. Looking forward to the next 3 days..with the double your sticker, i’m gonna have my grubby hands on the planner by thursday!
My own starbucks used to be starbucks katipunan, then it became commonwealth, now its regalado ave ( feu-nrmf medical center arcade ).
Hi Miss Lori=) thanks so much for sharing the news.=) im so excited! Advance Merry Christmas to you and your family!
you can buy it off ebay philippines for less. =)
Hi Miss Lori
I LOVE your pictures! =)
Thanks for the info
Hi. Someone told me about your site and can I just say.. Wow. Hehe. Anyways, my friends and I recently opened a cafe and I would love to have your input on it. Thanks so much and expect me to be stalking your blog. Hehe 🙂
Hi Lori. I was so happy to finally got my Starbucks planner last Saturday! I had to buy 5 toffee nut fraps so I could get and start using it December 1st! It was worth it though. I just love my planner. Love the soft leather.
Happy holidays to you and your family.
Lori, sorry about the typo – I meant to say ” I was so happy to finally GET (not got, hehe) my Starbucks planner last Saturday!
I’ve never used planners, so I’m one of the few who doesn’t even bother to get the promo card. (I gladly let friends claim the stickers for my drinks, though.) I have a good friend who drinks so much coffee, that — I swear, it’s true — last year, she redeemed 8 planners! Her friends and relatives were very happy to take her extras.
thanks for sharing! i’d really like to get one this time 😀
the 2008 planner looks very nice. i have to start drinking those cups of coffee asap
Double your points?!!!! Yahoooo! I’ve 4 more to go! I’m definitely availing of this “double your points” promo thing. Starbucks here I come ….again ! 🙂
The 2007 starbucks planner paved the way to my new home. All that planning took place in that planner. So maybe I will continue to get my dreams in 2008. Thanks for the tip.
i adored the first-ever starbucks planner with the post cards. it was awfully bulky to lug around but a real eye-candy.
there must be something about planners and coffee–kahlua (yes, the coffee liquer!) is offering limited edition planners. no leather covers but i rather like the ring-binding. each month offers a recipe for a kahlua mix drink. alternatively, kahlua is great for spiking desserts!
rustans fresh in rockwell is all out now, i think, so if you find the boxed freebie, best to grab it straightaway!
as always, thanks for the wonderful entry lori! 😀
It looks lovely! Great photos! 🙂
Happy 10th Lori!
Entertaining post as usual. =)
Hi Lori!
A friend informed me that in celebration of their 10th Anniversary, Starbucks is giving double stickers for every beverage from Dec 4-7! But only from 12.30-2.00pm and 8.00-9.30pm.
Good Luck! 😀
P.S. Great Post as always!
hello Lori,
I check out your blog regularly and I’m a fan. I got mine last Saturday so i do share your sentiments.
Thanks for sharing your insights on food related things.
All the best,
Cliff
Ang haba ng pila during those hours!
Eventhough it was a 45-minute wait, i guess it’s worth it. 5 more to go! Yupeee! 🙂
It’s funny, but once I find myself getting stickers for that planner I can’t stop. And I have no use for it because I live off my PDA so I usually give it away in the end. =)
Nearly there Lori but I’m still working with the pages I got left from last year’s planner. I went to Starbucks after class yesterday at about 9pm and the line was about 20 people long, something I never even see in the busiest of all airport-based Starbucks I’ve been to!
Hi Lori!
I was wondering if you got any of our emails from Mad Crowd Media? Please let me know 🙂
Lisa
Hi Miss Lori..=) my friend told me about Seatles Planner. i think it’s better than starbucks because of the extra freebies. maybe you want to check it out. hehe=)
Hi Miss Lori =)
I tried getting my Starbucks Planner before December so that the December 2007 part won’t get wasted. I think the marketing team of Starbucks figured that there are a lot of people finish the 24 stickers as early as November so they make the planner start not on January 2008 but December 2007. =)
So far, this is the best planner of Starbucks yet. True that it may not have bounce-back coupons (those buy 1 drink and get 1 drink for free coupons whenever there’s a holiday) like that in 2005 and 2006, or stickers like the 2004 planner, or a pen like last year (since this year, only a pencil is included), but at least it isn’t as bulky as last year (2007 was so bulky it can be used as a pillow), and the combination of leather, suede and what I think is recycled paper is simply elegant! =)
hi Lori!
hahahhaa!!! better take advantage of the double sticker promo. im in starbucks high street right now waiting for 8pm. hehehe!!! i already got my first planner. im currently down to 10 Christmas drinks and 5 regular drinks on my second card. HAHAHHA!!! this second card is actually taking me longer to fill up. my first card i finished in a week. hay…i quit smoking nga pero im practically injecting caffeine into my blood flow naman. but it’s all good! i’ll see you soon lori! btw, your 50mm lens is waiting for you here. =)
hi lori! its really great to have you back (semi regular).
got my planner last saturday and i love the 2008 version! i told hubby his coffee induced- “nervous breakdowns” were worth it. i am a happier girl this season. =)
I have to agree Lori, “LOTS” of coffee indeed. The 2008 planner is for me the best-looking in 4 years, too bad starbucks stopped including coupons last year.
Eric – true, no card-no sticker policy but unlike the previous years, you may now combine 2 cards.
🙂
Hi Lori. last week I already got my 2nd planner. I’m not really interested in this years planner not like last year where I was able to get 5 planners. I guess I just don’t seem to find the design of this years planner that nice. It was mainly thanks to the double your sticker that I was able to get the 2nd planner. But still a part of me just still wants to continue to collect sticker and hopefully get another one before their promo ends. 😀 I’m almost done with my 3rd card. only 4 drinks to go 😀
I’m typing this at starbucks ATC there double your sticker promo has been extended till the 25th of dec.
I got last year’s Starbucks planner March already because it’s a gift from a friend. Now I want to strive for that planner and voila! I had it last Saturday midnight. All those chugging down did not make me extra perky, it actually makes me sleepy, but what’s important from this planner is that I had my friends help me to complete it, truly the spirit of Christmas – giving. Now that I had my copy of this year’s planner, I’m now giving back the facor to my friends who want to accomplish that sticker book. I am no longer interested in getting another copy, I am now happy with my more-personalized planner. I think last year’s was too corporate in look and didn’t suit my personality as a student…
P.S. Nothing beats your blog!
Thanks for the great entry! 🙂 Starbucks double your planner stickers is extended until the 25th of December. You can now drink all the caffeine you want and still get that beautiful Starbucks planner!
Hello!
The double your stickers promo is extended until the 25th of this month. =)
Hi Miss Lori!
I have been a lurker here in your blog (actually, I started reading your blog way back when it was still in blogspot.) I love your pictures! I got my second planner the other day and that would go to my father. The Double-Your-Stickers promo is really helpful. My third planner I plan to give to someone special.
Happy holidays!
Happy New Year to you and all the dcf browsers!
I was in Manila over the holidays and I was able to get hold of Powerbooks journal and it’s also an “object of desire”.
Happy New Year to you and all the dcf readers!
I was in Manila over the holidays and I was able to get hold of Powerbooks journal and it’s also an “object of desire”.