Hello, Year 2009!

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

It's New Year's Eve already and in just less than 10 hours we will be welcoming another year again. It's this time of the year where I get to really think about a lot of things: what happened in the last 365 days of my life, what I did, what I did not do but could have done, what I still have, what I gained and what I lost. Year 2008 hasn't been the best year for me. I wasted months doing nothing. Thinking that I should take a couple of months off before getting a job and I wouldn't be able to do a lot of things then like maybe blogging every day and watching movies and TV series. I wasted months earning nothing when I could have been blogging religiously and earn through it like what I'm doing now. I wasted months saving up enough money for Christmas shopping hoping that my brothers and sisters would give me enough to buy even just a pair of pants, shoes and a top. Just one outfit. I ended up getting nothing, buying nothing and receiving nothing. I'm just stuck thinking and planning but never doing. I wasted a lot of time doing nothing when I could have done something, anything.

Now that 2009 is almost here I'm going to make sure that I won't repeat the mistakes I made this 2008. I am not one who makes yearly new year's resolution. I didn't believe in them. I do now. And I am going to make one for myself. This list would be more of like a guide to me and a reminder of the year that has been and not repeating it and then regretting afterwards.

Mara's To-Do List for 2009:

1. Get a JOB before the end of February 2009. - I want to be specific about this. I am now conditioned and motivated to work and I want to start my year with a JOB. Help my Mom with the expenses and all and eventually save up for more things.

2. Save More, Spend Less. - It would be unrealistic for me to say not to spend anymore cos I still have to. I have phone bills, internet bills and food expenses. Those three would remain. By spending less I mean, no buying of unnecessary things, no splurging, no whims. Buy things that are needed and not just wanted and go out only if I have to.

3. Eat healthy and Exercise. - I admit I suck at this but I want to improve. I tried doing this later this year but I only lasted about a month. I need this because my family has a history of Diabetes and I eat a lot of sweets: pastries and chocolates and ice creams which aren't really good for my health since I rarely move. I just go up and down the stairs, lie down, eat, sit down, eat. No chores, no exercise. Bad. I will work on this. I have to. I have read another blog entry from Meet Her Here about being a new you for the year 2009. They had articles regarding physical health and mind. I found a link on the World's Healthiest Food. 

4. Improve my blog. - Even though I am now decided to have a real job with a real monthly income, I don't think I will end my being a blogger. Not now that I'm starting to enjoy it, not not now that I know how to monetize it, not now that I'm meeting new people from different countries. I may not be posting everyday but I would still update every time I can. I still want to change my layout. Maximize my Adgitize, Entrecard and other paying sites. A little extra money on the side doing what I enjoy isn't a bad idea.

5. Be able to afford buying a new car OR a new house. - When I land on a job by February or by June (the latest), I'm going to save up for an initial payment. I wouldn't be buying solely, my Mom and I talked about this months ago and we're going to divide the expenses in two. This is going to be the highlight of my 2009.

6. Singapore or Hongkong on December 2009. - A treat for myself and if I saved enough I might let my brother come too and if my Mom is still here she could go too. But if not, I'm just going with my high school friends, all 2 or 3 of us. A gift to ourselves WHEN everything went as planned of course. Since I am not going to have a birthday party (which I do YEARL) until my 30th birthday, an out-of-the-country trip would be a nice treat, a belated birthday present, a time to relax even for just a few days and my friend would be graduating from college this coming March, so it would also be a belated graduation gift for her.

In summary, my To-Do list is actually a complex way of saying: 

"I want to turn my life around already! No more moping and bumming around! Be productive and use your College Degree! My parents didn't send me to a good school and paid expensive tuition fees just so I could waste what I've learned doing nothing at home."

I'm being positive about this and hopefully good vibes, good vibes, good vibes for the year 2009!

My 2008 Summary.

*Where did you begin 2008?
- At home.

*What was your status by Valentine's day of 2008?

- Single.

*Did you have to go to the hospital?
- Yes.

*Did you have any encounters with the police?
- Uh, no.

*Did you know anybody who got married?
- Yes.

*Did you know anybody who passed away?
- Yes.

*What sporting events did you attend?
- UAAP.

*What concerts/shows did you go to?
- Earth, Wind and Fire, Lifehouse, Rihanna and Chris Brown.

*Where do you live now?
- Still here.

*Describe your birthday.
- It was an Adult Kiddie Party at McDonald's with close friends and some family members.

 
*What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did?
- Oh, I'm not sure.

*Any new additions to your family?
- Bebe dog.

*What was your best month?
- April?

 

*Who was your best drinking buddy?
- My boys.

*Made new friends?
- I think.

*Any regrets?
- Yes.

*What do you want to change in 2009?
- My life.

*Overall, how would you rate this year?
- 5 out of 10.

*Have any life changes in 2008?
- Compared to last year's? None.

*Got a new job?
- I had one last March but none as of today.

*How old did you turn this year?
- 21.

*Did anything embarrassing?
- Yes.

*Get married or divorced?
- Neither.

*Started a new hobby?
- Yes. Blogging. :)

*Are you happy to see 2008 go?
- Yes.

*Drank Starbucks in 2008?
- Yes. A lot.

*Been naughty or nice?
- Nice.

*What are you wishing for in 2009?
- A job.

*Lost someone?
- No.

*Cut class?
- No.

*Was involved in something you'll never forget?

- No.

*Cooked a gross meal?
- No.

*Lost something important to you?
- No.

*Came close to losing your life?

- No.

*Went to a party?
- Yes. 

*Did you dislike anyone?

- Yes.

*Did you grow apart from anyone?
- Yes.

*Do you have any regrets when it comes to your friendships?

- No.

2008: YOUR BIRTHDAY

*Did you have a cake?
- Yes.

*Did you get any presents?
- Yes.

 

2008: ALL ABOUT YOU

*Did you change at all this year?
- Yes. Physically, emotionally, mentally.

*Did you change your style?

- No.

*Were you in school?
- Yes.

*Did you drive?
- No.

*Did anyone close to you give birth?
- Yes.

*Did you go on any vacations?
- Yes.

*Would you change anything about yourself now?
- Lose weight. Just that. 

2008: WRAP UP

*Was 2008 a good year?
- Not really,

*Do you think 2009 will top 2008?
- Oh I really really hope so!

I confess that in 2008 I...
( ) kissed in the snow
( ) celebrated Halloween
( ) had your heart broken
( ) mooned someone
(*) went over the minutes on your cell phone.
( ) came out of the closet
( ) gotten pregnant
( ) had an abortion
(*) done something you've regretted
OTHER
( ) painted a picture
( ) wrote a poem
( ) ran a mile
( ) shopped at Hollister or Abercrombie and Fitch
(*) posted a blog on multiply.
( ) visited a foreign country
( ) cut in a line of waiting people
(*) told someone you were busy when you weren't
( ) partied to celebrate the new year 
( ) cooked a disastrous meal
( ) lied about how old you were
( ) prank called someone
In 2008 I...
[*] broke a promise
[ ] fell out of love
[*] lied
[*] cried over a broken heart
[*] disappointed someone close
[*] hid a secret
[*] pretended to be happy
[ ] slept under the stars
[ ] kept your new years resolution
[ ] forgot your new years resolution
[ ] met someone who changed your life
[ ] met one of your idols
[*] changed your outlook on life 
[*] sat home all day doing nothing
[*] pretended to be sick
[ ] left the country
[ ] almost died
[*] given up on something/someone important to you
[ ] lost something expensive
[*] learned something new about yourself
[*] tried something you normally wouldn't try and liked it 
[*] made a change in your life
[*] found out who your true friends were
[*] met great people
[*] stayed up til sunrise
[ ] cried over the silliest thing
[*] had friends who were drifting away from you
[*] had a high cell phone bill

Songs for the day.

As of late last night up until this very moment that I'm typing, Britney Spears' songs are stuck in my head. Her second single from her new album, Circus is playing in my background and of course I want to share them with you here:

I have been a fan of Britney Spears since her Baby One More Time Days. I think I was in 5th Grade or so then. I bought all her albums and I listened to her songs a lot.

I even followed her relationship with Justin Timberlake during those days. As a fan, I honestly think that Britney is not one of the great singers out there. She can't hit high notes like Celine Dion

or even Christina Aguilera but her charm and her passion for what she's doing is what makes her the Pop Princess.

So blah blah blah, I'm not really here to give history or background of Britney or myself as a fan. I'm here to share her new album: Circus and the songs that are currently my favorites with some part of the lyrics that are really catchy:

1. Circus

"There’s only two types of guys out there, 

Ones that can hang with me, and ones that are scared 
So baby I hope that you came prepared 
I run a tight shift so, beware 
I’m like the ringleader 
I call the shots 
I’m like a firecracker 
I make it hot 

then I put on a show"

2. If U Seek Amy

"Love me hate me 

Say what you want about me 
But all of the boys and all of the girls are beggin' to If You Seek Amy 
Love me hate me 
But can't you see what I see 

All of the boys and all of the girls are beggin' to If You Seek Amy"

3. Kill The Lights

"Kill the Lights!

(Take 'em out, turn 'em off, break 'em down)
Kill the Lights!
(Don't be scared, make a move, see me now?)
Kill the Lights!
(I've seen you, watching me, watching you)
Kill the Lights!
You can't handle the truth
What happened to you?

I KILL
(The Lights) Pure
(The Lights) Satis
(The Lights) Faction
I KILL
(The Lights) Lights
(The Lights) Camera
(The Lights) Action"

4. Mmm Papi

"Stuck in 

the middle of it all 
To many people around me 
Can you hear me call? 
I look this way 
And you're not there 
If you dont mind 
My soul out there 

Mmm Papa, Mmm Papa, Mmm Papa"

5. Blur

"Can you calmly hand me all my things?

I think I need an aspirin
Better yet, I need to get up outta here
I gotta get my head right
Where the hell am I?
Who are you?
What'd we do
Last night?
Yeah yeah yeah"

The first four are upbeat songs. Groovy. Makes you wanna move your muscles and dance to it whatever way you like. 

My current LSS is If U Seek Amy. If you listen to it real carefully you'll hear her sing F-U-CK ME (If U Seek Amy). This song just sticks to your mind.

Kill The Lights although I didn't enjoy the first part of the song, I found the chorus and the rest of the song really good. It's something that you could dance ti in a dark room.

The beat is kind of "dark" if you know what I mean but it's great and catchy. Same goes with Mmm Papi but this one has a "lighter" beat than Kill The Lights.

Blur is a little mellow compared to the first 4 on my list, still good though. Blur has some sort of story in its lyrics.

If you have time you can try to listen to these songs and let me know what you think.

video from francomadrid84 (YouTube)

Random Sunday entry.

I feel like I have a lot of things to blog about and I don't know where to start first. Words are rambling inside my head and I can't organize them and write them all down. The easiest way I could think about to let them all out of my head is to just simply enumerate them. Less hassle. Less words yet straight to the point. 

1. I'm going to start to let my readers (uh-huh, I'm seriously thinking that I have at least a handful of readers) know that I've added a Cbox here in my blog. Drop a line or two, say hi, comment, let me know what you think, whatever, I'd appreciate it a lot and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Promise.

2. For about two days now, I'm thinking of modifying my blog. Organizing my entries, say a different tab for my food-related articles from my movies, music, book reviews and daily stuffs, a wider entry space than what my current layout has, and a bit more personalized. Why haven't I started reconstructing you ask? I don't know how. Unfortunately, I'm really not familiar with HTML stuffs let alone make my own layout for my blog. I want to have the "read more" tag in my entries but I don't know how. If anyone out there would like to help me, please please e-mail me at: mara_dguzman@yahoo.com

3. I cleaned my room a little. You know, just to sweat out and do a little moving around here. I'd probably clean more thoroughly on New Year's. New Year, clean room, organized things, I hope it would attract good luck for me for the year 2009 as I get rid of the dirt and dust around me, literally and metaphorically speaking.

4. Maybe I should start making another blog? Try the whole niche blog thing. I have quite a number of ideas already in mind but I don't know what's holding me back. Maybe it's because of the layout thing again and then the traffic and the maintenance. Having one blog is already a lot of work for me what with all the programs I have joined just to get a decent number of readers and the entries I think about every day. The topic is not that hard since this is a personal blog, but the typing and the wordings and stuff take a lot of time.

5. I want to buy a lot of things but I can't. I shouldn't. I wouldn't spend a large amount of money for whims if I don't have a job yet. I have to have a job within the first half of 2009. I have to work and earn.

6. Setting a time table for my every day would be a nice idea. With all my online quests, it's way hard to be able to finish them all in a day. Check e-mails, check Facebook, check Multiply, check CIAO, check MyLot, check Entrecard, check Adgitize, etc. etc. It's hard I tell you and I wake up at 10-11 AM and sleep around 2-3 AM. I try to squeeze them all in within that given time. Posting here, posting in CIAO, responding in MyLot, watching series, blah blah and blah.

7. This is getting quite long and this is about all of it, summarized.

New Year's in a few days and I'm still down in the dumps.

Frostings Cupcakes.

I have mentioned last night that I will be going to post a photo of my Frostings cupcakes today and I'm here to fulfill that promise.

Here's the photo of my Box of 4 cupcakes (sorry for the crappy photo, I forgot to bring my digicam with me so I took a shot from my good ol' Blackberry):

Frostings Cupcakes: Brazo de Mercedes, Caramel, Swiss Chocolate and Lemon Meringue

Lately, I noticed I'm into trying new food. Cupcakes, cakes, breakfast meals, etc. and for my most recent discovery: Frostings Cupcakes in Rustan's. For the price of P45 for Regular and P55 for Premium I think they are worth it. Moist, big, full--not those typical cupcakes that look big but when you take a press and take a bite it sort of shrinks, not too sweet to make you stop chewing after 2 bites, in short: WELL WORTH THE MONEY.

Of course if you're really not into pastries you won't go buying this ridiculously priced food for a cupcake but it would be good once in a while to try new stuffs. I highly recommend this to every one who has a sweet tooth.

Visit them at 3rd Floor Rustan's Department Store in Shangri-La Plaza, near the Toys' section.

I would update you guys if I try new flavors some other day. But those 4 that I had really was scrumptious for a cupcake especially the Lemon Meringue.

Pigging out again.

I woke up feeling all grouchy this morning yet again. It's not really that unusual for me to be in a not-so-good mood when I get up in the mornings but I'm trying to control it with no luck.

So, when my Mom asked me to go with her to Shangri-La, I lazily got my grouchy self to dress up. Not smiling and not talking.

It was already past 2 PM when we left the house and I successfully muttered under my breath the words: "I'm so hungry."

When we got to Shang my Mom headed to her appointment in Nail Spa and she just gave me money to go get myself lunch.

Here's what I ate:

Beef Pepper Rice

Yup, Pepper Lunch again. All by myself. It was my first time to try PL in Shang since it opened last week. I'm not sure if I just didn't smell myself but the food's smell didn't stick to my body as strong as the one's in Powerplant.

I was so hungry I just remembered to snap a shot when I already started "cooking" it and I felt like I was in heaven after that I forgot to take an "after" shot and share how my shiny plate looked like. I finished every single grain of rice and beef and corn on my plate!

After Pepper Lunch, I bought 4 cupcakes at Frosting in Rustan's but I can't upload the photo right now cos Blogger's kinda slow. Would post it maybe tomorrow. Anyways, headed to Starbucks for coffee, strolled around for a couple of minutes and then went home already.

I'm less grouchy but I'm still not in the mood today that's why I told my Mom that I wanna go home already. I still feel so full from my PL meal that I skipped dinner and ate 1 cupcake and drank 3 glasses of water instead. :)

Next pig-out: Next week probably.

I wonder what food am I gonna share here again.

See yah!

A Very Merry Heaven and Eggs Christmas!

Before this day comes to an end, I would like to greet every one a very Merry Christmas! I hope all of you are having a great time with your friends and families, enjoying great food, great company, and of course, having fun opening up those presents.

Don't ask me how my Christmas eve and Christmas day went though or I'll be pulling you down with me with my current emotions.

I just hope ever one's having a blast. If I don't

 and didn't, at least others are happy.

The only happy thing that has happened was earlier today, brunch at Heaven & Eggs in Glorietta with my Mom and my cousin.

Here's what I ate:

Head Bangers'

Red Velvet Cake and Cappuccino

I loved the Head Bangers', the Omelet is so delicious and the US Angus Tapa is so flavorful! I can't say the same thing for the cake though, or maybe I was just expecting it to be something like Mary Grace's Velvet Cake. Mary Grace's is a lot more yummy than H&E. 

I loved my Mom's cake though:

Tres Leches

It's not to sweet and not too blunt either. I should've ordered this one instead of that Red Velvet.

Oh, I feel that I should mention this being an HRIM graduate, the service of MEL was really really great. He attended to our needs with a smile, he made small friendly talks while my Mom and I decide what to order, he's so polite and because of that we left him a larger tip than we normally do with other restaurants.

Aside from the food's taste and maybe the ambiance, SERVICE is the most important thing in food establishments. If your service crew is slow, impolite and obviously aren't people person eve if your chef makes good food, potential and even those return customers would think twice of coming back.

Guests LOVE to feel like V.I.Ps.

Okay, I'm having this lecture. I'll have it in another appropriate post sometime. This one is just to greet everybody a wonderful Christmas and share how my Christmas day went.

MERRY CHRISTMAS GUYS!

Hello, handsome!

My current eye-candy, Robert Pattinson has recently had his haircut.

Whatcha think? He looks a little tame in his new do. I like the hair, short and neat, but not him. I like him better with that messy hair now. Hahaha!

Guess I'm gonna be having him in my dreams again later tonight.

photo from: JustJared.com

This would definitely give me nightmares!

I'm gonna do this quick cos I'm about to hit the sack already when I stumbled about this blog entry in my Multiply account that I seriously have to blog about it also.

I don't think it deserves to be in my Blogger account though that's why I just posted in it my Multiply blog.

PLEASE PLEASE CHECK IT OUT especially if you're into the Twilight series and even if you're not, it's still worth the read (if you want to have nightmares that is!).

I was so sleepy before I read it and now I am wide awake with shock and annoyance.

How pathetic could they get? This is so embarrassing, so humiliating, so so so, I'm furious I can't say anything more!

Here's my Multiply blog.

Lucas' Baptism.

Torres Family.

Welcome to the Christian world, Lucas Miguel S. Torres!

Dec. 21, 2008

Santuario de San Jose

3PM

Congratulations to my Loves, the parents, Mhe and Migby Torres.

We know you'll make good parents for baby Lucas! You're a team, right?

Trust that we, the ninangs, will fulfill our responsibility to him as well whenever needed and otherwise. :)

Love you!

I'm not anorexic!

Some high school friends of mine kept saying that I'm a potential anorexic. I disagree. A little. Or not. Whatever.

Am I anorexic?

I still eat though. I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and most of the time I even have snacks in between.

They started telling me that while we were eating 

in the baptismal reception of one of our friend's baby.

I ate these:

Fish Fillet w/ Tartar Sauce and Carbonara

Buko Pandan

Oh yes, that two cakes were mine: Conti's Chocolate Mousse and Mango Bravo.

I had 2 slices of Mango Bravo btw.

So, how did I become anorexic? I just said my diet's ruined again but it's okay since it was my first real meal for the day. I only had whole wheat bread and yogurt for breakfast at 11 AM.

I AM NOT ANOREXIC. 

May anorexic bang bilog ang mukha??? Hahaha!

Conti's cakes are yum yum!

Back to RED.

My nails are back to its original nail polish: RED.

Thank you to Nail Spa, Shangri-La Mall for my nails. :)

My diet's ruined!

My diet for this week has been ruined. I have a no-rice diet for the past couple of days only eating whole wheat bread for lunch and dinner and drinking water and yogurt drink for snack. 

Last Thursday, my high school friends and I had super late lunch-super early dinner at Pepper Lunch in Powerplant. Super early and super late because it was already past 3 PM.

Here's what I ate that day:

Curry Beef Pepper Rice

I don't really mind ruining my diet for this. I just considered Thursday as my cheat day just so I could get away from eating rice. Pepper Lunch is worth the "cheat"! I have been craving this for a month now and I'm just so happy that I get to eat with friends there. It's not enjoyable eating alone especially if it's as delicious as Pepper Lunch. Thank you to Katrina Lozano for the treat! I want to try GOMA (their new dessert) but yeah, diet. I even avoided the best dessert ever: Molten Chocolate Cake w/ Soft Ice Cream! Grrrrr. I'm gonna go back next week for this. I swear!

If you haven't tried this yet, then you better go and see what I'm talking about. You can visit Pepper Lunch at Powerplant Mall in Makati City and they recently opened a new branch at Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong City. 

And then today, I went out with my Mom and my cousin to buy some gifts for my Mom's office mates in Shangri-La. 

Here's what I ate today for lunch:

Tender Bob's Baby Back Ribs

Scrumptious! Really really love this one. Although I was actually wanting to eat at Pepper Lunch again and let my Mom and cousin taste for themselves what I've been talking about at home, I just let my Mom decide instead plus I don't feel like smelling food afterwards. :)

Oh, unlike last Thursday, I didn't finish up my rice. I hardly ate half of it. The Baby Back Ribs however, it was gone in less than 15 minutes. It looked actually small in this photo.

There goes my diet. I'm justifying cheating by thinking that I burned the calories already from all the walking and stuff and I'm not gonna eat dinner anyways. Really. I'm just gonna say hello to my Nestle Yogurt Drink tonight. IF I get hungry.

Because I have nothing better to do!

My title says it all.

So I decided to copy and answer this "survey" from one of my contacts in my Multiply account.

Enjoy!

TRUTHS ABOUT ME 
Last beverage? Kool-Aid Pineapple
Last phone call ? Apple.
Last instant message ? Nobody.
Last song you listened to ? Mad - Ne-Yo
Last time you cried ? Last night.
Last text message --> Apple.

HAVE YOU EVER: 
Dated someone twice - No.
Been cheated on ? Yes. 
Cheated on someone? Yes.
Lost someone special - Yes. 
List 3 favorite colors: Black, White, Green. 

IN THE PAST MONTH HAVE YOU: 
Fallen out of love ? No. I'm not in love in the first place.
Laughed until you cried – No.
Met someone who changed your life – Yes.
Found out who your true friends were – Yes. 
Found out someone was talking about you ? Yes. 

MISC: 
How many kids do you want to have ? 2-3.
Do you have any pets ? No.
Do you want to change your name -- No.
What did you do for your last birthday ? Mcdonald's Kiddie Party.
What time did you wake up today ? I didn't sleep.
What were you doing last night ? Watching.
Name something you CANNOT wait for ? I don't know.
Last time you saw your father ? I'm looking at him right now. :p
What's one thing you wish you could change ? My life in general.
Have you ever talked to a person named Tom ? No.
What's getting on your nerves right now ? Boys.
What's your real name ? Ma. Leonora Salazar de Guzman
What's your nick name - Mara, Mars, Babe.
Eye color ? Dark brown. 
Long or short hair? Long.
Are you health freak ? Quite.
Height? 5'2 -3

FIRSTS : 
First piercing ? Ears. 
First bestfriend ? Carmela. 
First sport you joined ? Cheering? Is that counted? 
First pet ? Dog. 
First concert? Forgot.

CURRENTLY : 
Eating ? None.
Drinking ? None.
I'm about to ? Die.
Waiting ? Everything.

FUTURE : 
Want kids? Yes?
Want to get married? Yes.
Careers in mind? Not sure.


Lips or eyes ? Eyes.
Shorter or taller ? Taller. 
Older or Younger? Older. 
Romantic or spontaneous - Spontaneous
Sensitive or loud ? Both. 
Trouble- maker or hesitant ? Both.

HAVE YOU EVER : 
Kissed a stranger ? I'm not sure.
Drank hard liquor ? Yes. 
Lost glasses/ contacts ? Yes.
Ran away from home ? No. 
Broken someone' s heart ? Yes. 
Been arrested ? No.
Turned someone down ? Yes. 
Cried when someone died ? Yes. 
Liked a guy/ girlfriend ? Yes.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 
Miracles ? Yes. 
Love at first sight ? No.
Heaven - Yes. 
Santa Claus ?  No.
Kiss on the first date ? No. 
Angels ? Yes. 

ANSWER TRUTH FULLY : 
Is there one person you want to be around right now? - - Yes!

Today's Emotion.

I woke up not feeling joyous today. It's not like there's something to be joyful or excited about or that I wake up every morning with a smile on my face. This morning I feel... different. Empty and sad. Not my usual morning grumpiness.

Then I realized why. I acknowledged why. I accepted why I'm feeling this way. It started the other day and I paid it no mind that's why maybe it tolled on me today.

I MISS MY DAD. 

This is gonna be the second Christmas since his passing and it's still hard.

That's all I could say.

My first Christmas gift!

It's not really a gift per se. No wrapper and card but still, it's something someone gave me and I'm really really grateful for it!

It's not easy completing 16 stickers of Starbucks just to get this 2009 Planner that they have. I didn't remove it from the box yet, so the photo of the Planner would just be posted in my later entries.

This is my 4th Planner from Starbucks since I started "collecting" them 4 years ago. They have this every Christmas season. 

Promo cards are given to customers who want to collect stickers to redeem the Planner. Cards are usually available every 1st week of November.  During the past years, you have to complete 24 stickers (half for the usual drinks and half for the Christmas drinks) but this year it lessened to only 16 which is good but is kind of harder for me than before since I don't go out much anymore. Anyway, stickers are being given until January and Planners can be redeemed until March or April.

Even though my former boss gave me this, I still have to complete my card for my Mom. No worries, I'm only down to 5. I'm gonna complete it before Christmas. I have to!

I'm just glad I already have one, at least I only have to "work" for 1 card instead of 2.

Thank you, Ms. E!