Lookie Lookie OOOOOH!

Guess who's drunk too many peppermint mochas and zen teas!

Just got it at Starbucks Alabang Town Center after rummaging the Cuenca bazaar. :) Me loving it? Sure do. I just have to fill in my current red one before I start using this fuzzy little baby here.

Hello Red Cups!

When Starbucks changes their traditional white paper cups to red, it signals one thing, that it's sticker collecting time! While at Glorietta a few weeks ago, I chanced upon the snowflake glass etchings at the Starbucks stores, signaling the return of the planner. Although I don't follow trends or go where everyone goes (I don't watch Glee, I don't play Facebook games, and I'm not keeping tabs on the Pacquiao-Cotto fight right now), this is one trend I do follow since I've always liked the Starbucks planner where I write down my appointments or discovered Youtube tutorials.




Anyhoo, a trivia I found out is that it's only here in Manila that they have the Starbucks planner program. Although the drinks are available also internationally, we can't collect stickers there like we do here.


And on for the drinks:
Last year's Dark Cherry Mocha still is here but Praline Mocha has been replaced with an old favorite... Peppermint Mocha, which took a break last year. Erika and I were sad that it wasn't in last year's roster of drinks but now, I'm glad it's here. Actually, it's what I've been ordering everytime I'm there, and obviously, with my face right smack on its picture, it's been my favorite. I order it this way - short (or tall), hot, decaf nonfat, no whipped cream with sugar sprinkles please. The mint flavor is smooth rather than shocking cold, so I could have it as an after-dinner drink. The two other flavors, since these are richer, I order with no cream. The sweet buttery flavor of Toffee Nut Latte is a good morning drink, while I reserve Dark Cherry Mocha in the afternoon or again, for an all-nighter shoot.

This year's planner is just like last year, in terms of bulk. I found the leather-bound planner too bulky to fit in my already bulky bag. This one is slimmer, although they come in just one color. Oh, and they have coupons too. Yay for the coupons again!

The coffee bean and coffee ground covers in macro settings caught my eye, since my photography is mostly macro.

I just wish they had grids, though because I can't write in a super straight line.

But hey, at least I could do more abstract cubisms while I'm bored.

I'm almost quarter-filled with filling up my sticker book. However, since it was started early, there might be time for a second one. A friend of mine already had two. :)

Tis The Season for The Starbucks Planner

Coffee Lovers I bet are trooping to Starbucks right now and whenever I walk in the mall or at the Makati Central Business District, I spot a red cup in like 2 out of 5 people. At first I didn't want to get a planner for myself but when I saw that they issued a RED variant, well, thesugarbug is also in the planner race!

Anyway, this year, sticker collectors would be collecting 16 stickers - 8 holiday drinks, and 8 regular drinks (except for juices or bottled water or tetrapack drinks). It's easier this year than the previous year's yet a strict no-card, no sticker policy is implemented. Here, we could choose 3 planners - one black (classic), blue, or red. These are hardbound and they all come with a slim pen. :)

For this year's holiday drinks, Starbucks reprises last year's Toffee Nut Latte and Praline Mocha. Both give out the sweetness with that kick of caffeine to jumpstart the day. I prefer toffee nut latte's buttery sweet taste as I find praline mocha too sweet for my taste.

The sad news is last year's Peppermint Mocha, which had been Holiday drink staple for as long as I can remember has been replaced. This was sad for me as it's been a favorite drink of mine, hot, iced, or Frappucinno. For those who misses the mellow bitterness, the replacement is Dark Cherry Mocha, which has that bitterness with a little fruity flavor. My verdict when I tried it yesterday: Not bad. It actually reminded me of black forest cake. In my opinion, the bitterness would taste better hot with no cream so as not to mask the flavor, but that's just me.

Starbucks also aside from the traditional drinks adds the Gingerbread cookies and peppermint brownies in their roster of pastries. I was already able to spot the pretty gingerbread cookies, which makes excellent pasalubong or an in-between work muncher. The peppermint brownie looks like a hit as it's been fast-selling in almost every Starbucks I see. I haven't tried the peppermint brownie yet but maybe I will soon!

Anyone get their planners yet? How'd you find it?

Jamaica in a Pie

Remember the Jamaican Patties we eat during school for that quick "lunch fix"? Starbucks has its version

And also, it's healthy being a vegetarian dish - carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, etc. My only complaint is that why they had to include beans.

I do like the exotic taste though that remind me of my favorite samosas. They do need to improve on the crust consistency as well.

And the talk on vegetarian food, what happened to the vegetarian stall @ the food court in Glorietta? I sure hope it didn't close!