I was so uncomfortable with the ad that I tried to have it pulled from the Starbucks I visit. I was successful in doing this, but in order to increase my chance of success, I interviewed several people about their opinions on the ad so that I could make a strong case to the managment. Many of the women I interviewed told me that the ad made them more uncomfortable with their bodies and made them question yet again if they were thin enough. One woman said the ad made her feel quilty for ordering a regular latte. Another woman I talked to said that the ad inspired her to start "the skinny latte diet." Everyday for breakfast and lunch she had a skinny latte. Obviously this extreme dieting practice is unhealthy. This type of diet can seriously impact the physical and emotional health of women. People come in all shapes and sizes and like other negative media images this ad just encourages women to become thinner. Our society already puts enormous pressure on women to be thin. Many of the women I interviewed also went to Starbucks to escape the world for awhile. Starbucks is seen as a peaceful place by many and this ad made many people uncomfortable. I think that Starbucks need to be more careful about the wording of their ads in the future because they are so popular and and because of that popularity their ads can strongly affect people. I interviewed the manager of the Starbucks I visit and he said that the skinny latte drink sales went way down as soon as the promotion started. He apolagized to me and pulled the ad from the store. The manager said that several people complained everyday. Although I don't think Starbucks intended to make women feel bad about their bodies and cause such controversy, but it did. I think in the future Starbucks will use better judgment when making their ads. I hope that this was a lesson for them.

Dear Starbucks,
I love your company more than anything. I have been drinking coffee since I was nine, and Starbucks has always been a home away from home for me. I always used going to Starbucks as an escape from my life, but one day that all changed. I walked in one afternoon on my break from work and noticed your skinny latte ad. The word skinny was posted all over the walls, and there were many large posters adveriizing this drink. This drink had always been available. It had been previously called a nonfat, sugarfree latte. I asked one of the baristas why the name of the drink was changed. They said that it was just easier to say and write. I don't believe that this was the sole purpose behind the name change. Starbucks dominates the coffee industry and must do a lot of marketing to make money and maintain their status. Starbucks is very trendy, and many famous people drink your coffee. For example, I have never seen a photograph of the Olsen twins where they were not drinking coffee. Being thin is also trendy. Many women feel insecure about their bodies because of this. American is also a very health concious culture. I'm sure that Starbucks played into the insecurities of many women and the thin is in trend in America to sell more drinks. Starbucks had previously gotten a lot of flack for their high calorie drinks. I think part of the purpose of this ad was to offer America an alternative to the other drinks and that the intended message of this ad was that people could still enjoy Starbucks while maintaining their health concious lifestyle, however this ad was not well thought out. I don't think that Starbucks realized the ramafications of using a word like skinny to describe a latte. I have met very few women who don't wish they were thinner.

I'd never thought I'd say this, but honestly I hate Stephen so much. The most frustrating thing about it is that I can't do anything about it. The boy almost killed me, and I can't do anything about it. I can't retaliate although I'd like to. I hate what he put me through and what he put my family through. It has to be okay though, I have to accept it. I shouldn't have to accept it. He should have to pay for what he did, but I don't think that's a possibility. I wish I could kill him. I really wish I could. He is the biggest asshole ever and quite honestly hands down the worst person I ever met. I wish I could do something to get back at him, but I can't. There is nothing I can do with all the anger I feel towards him. He keeps bothering me with texts, facebook messages, and IMs. At least the calls have stopped. When he critized Catholicism and yelled at my dad for our beliefs my dad told me later that he wished that he could have beat him up. I wish he had. In some ways I wish Stephen would go away. All the trama and the memories associate with it tourment me everyday. I don't feel safe anymore. He took that away. I wish he could just go away. That's not possible, and that makes me mad. It's so ironic that I have third day playing in the background. I keep hoping that God will take all this pain away. Maybe that's possible?

I was looking through the memories, and I saw this challange that was origionally started by vanillanutcreme. I thought I would start it again.
I love my body.
After 8 years of anorexia with some bulimia thrown into the mix. It's still strong. Even though I'm currently pulling myself out of a 16 month relapse, I still have a positive attitude. I've never given up. A dietician put me on a big meal plan and I had the courage to eat all of it even though it was so painful at first. I'm willing to do anything to kick my eating disorder in the ass. I love my new "game over" mentality. One day, 6 months ago, I looked into the mirror at my body which was quickly withering away and said fuck this shit. I've never looked back.

I love my hair.
Despite the malnutrition. It is still long and beautiful.

I love my eyes.
They are dark blue and huge and get noticed all the time.

I love my hands.
They allow me to do almost anything. I like using them for art projects, writing, and cooking mostly.

I love my voice.
I've been singing since I was 5. Every time my beautiful voice comes out of my body, it reminds me that I need to take care of my body, because we all need to use the gifts we have. I have a communication degree and used my voice to get the skinny latte ad pulled from the Starbucks I visit often.

I love my legs.
Despite the past malnutrition and cerebral palsy, my legs let me walk around all day.

I love my breasts.
They are a fairly new thing. I developed them in the last six months. It's fun to be able to wear clothes that I couldn't wear before.

I love my spirit...
and no matter what happens I never give up!

& I love you.

( pictures )

Karen,
I got my period back. I was really happy about it, but now I have mixed feelings. I feel like everything is changing at once. Getting my period back means that I'm a lot healthier then I was. I don't know if I'm ready for that. I know that I'm just upset that I lost my grandmother (mimi) and this isn't really about my body at all. I started seeing myself as too fat when she died. i felt really out of control because I had to take a week off of work and go to the wake and the funeral which was really scary. I really am uncomfortable with what I ate in Massachusetts though, and if I keep on eating like that I will relapse. I think I'm just going to go back to having 3 meals a snack and 1 dessert a day which is what I was having before. I never get my period at unhealthy weights, so the weight I'm at is ok, apparently. I found out today that Sarah killed her baby, I'm so mad. I'm just trying to accept it, because I can't control the decision she made. I prayed for her and offered to help her and that's all I can do. I hope the Lord will give me peace about this, because right now I'm really mad. I thought about my options for living arrangements and decided that I'm not going to rush into anything and I will just stay here for now. Sarah is only applying for jobs in GA, so chances are she will get one soon. When she comes I guess we will move then. Sarah is a very supportive person for me. If she finds a job she likes things will work out. I'm really nervous about eating now because I'm finally seeing results of it. I gained a little bit of weight, I don't feel sick any more, and I got my period back. Which means I'm not anorexic anymore. That's scary as hell. I don't know how people ever really recover, but I trust you that I do. I don't feel special or good enough since I don't meet diagnostic criteria for anorexia anymore, because it was my identity and my one safety net for so long. Being anorexic takes a lot of work. It's very difficult to maintain such a low weight and a strict diet and be sick all the time and still function. I think I'm just going to focus on work right now and moving up, because I love working so much. This sounds really sick but a part of me was always proud to be anorexic because it requires so much work. I guess I'll just have to find other things to work hard on. There is one part of me that really wants to get better and knows that it's ok not to have an eating disorder. There are so many options in life for healthy people, and I think that scares me so much. Usually if you are really scared to do something you either really should do it or really shouldn't and it is really easy to figure out which. I'm really scared of recovery and being normal and not having an eating disorder. But I know I should keep eating and keep trying and keep living and I will.
peace & love,
~Brianna

Is there any one who can loan me money. I need about $1000 to cover medical expenses. Any amount would help if anyone is willing to donate. I have paypal. Please help me out. I was just diagnosed with anorexia. I'm very sick. Even $1 would help? Can anyone donate anything?