Showing posts with label starbucks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label starbucks. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Kape 002. Of Dreams and Loved Ones

I never imagined how things would go among us High School friends after this challenging year, 2012. Right now, my mind is just about to burst with so much ideas waiting to be finally written down, just in time for my year-end blog post. Cos 2012 is actually my year of very, very tough choices and decisions.

But anyway, going back to the topic of High School friends. Yea, we kinda drifted apart during the middle of this year. Long story but I don't want to go back to those dark days. Thought it's going to be finally over. But I'm just thankful that we're slowly getting back to where we left off. I texted Aileen and asked her if she'll be free anytime this week to have coffee and talk. Gladly, she obliged to meet me that same night. So, here goes my 2nd sticker.

What: 1 venti Dark Mocha Frappuccino (for me)
1 venti Mocha Frappuccino (for Aileen)
When: November 13, 2012 (Monday)
Where: Starbucks Timog-Imperial Suites
With whom: Jarl and Aileen 

Just when I've started to take baby steps in carving out my own future, God sends another test of faith. This time, it's my ultimate dream. Something which I've always set my eyes on since 7 years ago. But it's a dream of going to a distant land alone.

I've said to myself, this is it. I just have to grab it while it's there. But something in my heart tells me to just let it pass and let it go. I ask God, "Why now? It could've come at a more opportune time when I needed it." But it came at a time when I've already invested a lot in terms of time, energy and resources to build something, and at a time when the cost of chasing after my dream means having to choose between that and my loved ones.

I'd like to believe that my 2nd cup of coffee is an answered prayer. My friend summed up perfectly with the words, "Wouldn't it be happier if you live out your dreams together with the people you love the most? Fulfilling your dreams would have more meaning if you walk through the journey of getting there together." I take it from my best friend who experienced her father's passing away this year. I know the feeling of being the one left behind. I'm a daughter of an absentee father since I was born. And I also know the feeling of regret over lost time. So that statement shouldn't come as new.

More than my dilemma, we spent the time also to catch up on what has happened during the past months. She made use of the remaining hours left to study and go over her Med book while I read through the last few pages left of Paulo Coelho's Aleph.

Aileen's one of the few friends I rarely get to spend time with because of her busy schedule in Med. But every single time that we have the chance to meet and talk is something that's well-spent.


I remember a friend of mine who recounted his experience of leaving his dream in the Academy in exchange for love. Thought it was too illogical and absurd at the time he was sharing it to me. Now, I understand where he's coming from. 

Of dreams and loved ones.... 
time would come when you'd both merge into one but 
a certain time would come first in your life when you'd have to choose one. 

2012, you're really a year of choices.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Kape 001: Mother-Daughter Bonding


Ho ho ho! It's that time of the year again when people flock to any Starbucks branch sprawled all over the country because the race is on for the upcoming year's planner. That is my assumption, of course, but I'm not sure if customers do really double in number during the holiday season because of this promo. Being the OC I am and planners as an integral part of my daily life since high school, I go and google how the 2013 Starbucks Planner look like on the outside and most importantly, on the inside.


While searching, I came across this article which left me with an unbelievable "WOW" reaction afterwards. Read about the first woman to claim the planner after less than a day. She drank 17 cups of coffee in one day just to claim that title which I'm not sure I'd be proud of. Talk about being competitive and super duper caffeine overdose. 
Then an idea popped! Since I've been collecting Starbucks planners since 2005 and would often regret afterwards the amount it cost me, why not put some meaning into each cup I'd be drinking as I make my way towards completing my sticker cards? 

The front message of the sticker card says, "Rekindle the Joy". Hence, I'll rekindle the joy while I collect these 17 memorable stickers.   


So here goes my first 2 stickers: a coffee date with Mom on  a Sunday night :)

What: 1 grande toffee nut (hot), 1 tall caffe latte (hot)
When: November 11, 2012 (Sunday)
Where: Starbucks Panay Avenue
With whom: Mommy


I initially planned this to be a me-time activity (Sundays are me-time days), but when I casually asked Mom after she came home from a day at work (yes, she's out doing fieldwork on a Sunday) if she wanted to join me for coffee, she agreed right away. So off we went to the nearest Starbucks from the house.
This wasn't my first time to have coffee with Mommy, but tonight confirmed to me once again that I actually got my being a neat freak from my dearest Mom. She emptied out all the contents of her bag onto the table and carefully sorted through the receipts and papers. She arranged her stuff back into her bag neat and orderly. She then proceeded to make her to-do list for the next day. Everything she did was just soo, soo me. What an enjoyable sight to behold watching my Mom do all of those things. 

She brought some new flyers of Bittersweet in her bag. I was surprised that my Mom had so much courage to approach selected girl customers inside the store to give out flyers. How sweet and supportive of Mommy! I was at first hesitant of Mom giving away flyers inside the store since I myself don't like receiving it if I were the customer. But I could see how Mom was happy doing it for me, and how the customers reacted positively towards Mom. She was even giggling when she heard some girls discussing about waxing because of the flyers. At that very moment, I admired and loved my Mom even more for such selfless act. 

I'm almost done with the book I was reading but then I often caught Mom shutting her eyes because of lack of sleep for the past 2 days. So we just stayed there for an hour and a half, and then we went back home.

My take-home joyful moment: 
the overwhelming love and support of a mother

"Mama" by Spice Girls

Photo & Video Credits:
http://moneylifeblood.blogspot.com/2012/11/starbucks-planner-2013-cost-of-getting.html
http://www.blueberry010.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsNbhwSXDB8