Starbucks Stroll

DASHING LIAM

I received the notification via my Starbucks phone app. An April Star Dash. The challenge was to make a purchase at Starbucks prior to 11 AM on 15 days in April. If this was accomplished the reward would be 20 bonus stars. Here is the screenshot of the announcement.

Why would I want to do it? With every 12 stars you get a free drink/meal of your choice. So a latte and part of a latte would be my choice of prize. Extra free lattes always welcome. And I will be going anyway. Why not enter?

LIAM LOVING EXTRA LATTES

I had to be proactive and tap a few tabs to enter the race. I did. I joined. And the following screenshot shows the message I received.

My plan was not to plan.
There were 30 possibilities and I expected to garner my 20 stars by the 3rd week of April.

I did not anticipate earning my stars would be difficult. I am there before 11 am when I can be, which is 4-5 times a week. Certain days have scheduled appts. and activities which always preclude arriving before 11. I had no intention of manipulating my schedule to achieve the 20 bonus star goal. In my mind it had to happen naturally.
My plan was not to plan.
April 1 was a Wednesday and I started the dash with an earned star by arriving before 11.

The Starbucks app records the time of the purchase and I knew I would have an ongoing record to refer to all month. I also kept a tally on a wall calendar. Electronic and paper. Obsessive? Not to me, routine recordation. This month of April 2015 had some additional events and happenings.
April Dash Obstacles

These would be unexpected occurrences. The following are a few
Apple course-April 4

On a Saturday. No lattes allowed in the store. I decided not ask Liam's Dad to use my card for his coffee. He would have to get going early. Too much stress for the hubby's day off and too early in the month for me to panic. So a miss.
Long lines-April 5 and April 8

Twice I was in the store in what seemed like enough time but due to long lines and large orders by those on the long lines I was clocked in at 11:01 and 11:02. Thought of flagging down a barista and explaining my quandary but that would be tampering and my plan was not to plan. The month still had days.
Car Appt. 

Ordinarily in June but I am accelerated due to urgent reminders from Ford.
 Rhinebeck Trip 

Two days, taking out the last two days of April.

No Starbucks in Rhinebeck
Nail Appt.
moved due to Rhinebeck trip 
Snow Days
As a result of inclement weather reschedulings, yoga class from March 5 now moved to April 2...ends after 11.

I started off a bit slow. More like a Starbucks stroll than a dash. By mid-April I had accrued only 7... I had expected to be done. I had a good third week. No extraordinary efforts made to arrive by 11. 

By the fourth week in April it was obvious that I could make it. But anything might happen. Feeling a bit anxious on April 27, I gave Liam's Dad my card as I would be engaged all morning. I do that sometimes if he and I will have separate morning commitments. Not really a manipulation. We made it 15 on April 27!

Here the screenshot of the end of my dash. These last three stars are pre 11 AMs

On the way to Rhinebeck we stopped (this is a traditional stop, no manipulation) and I cushioned my star stash with an extra, making my total for pre 11am April Dash stars-16.
It's a wrap.
And I wait for the stars to shoot into my account.
May 1, May 2, May 3, May 4, Cinco de Mayo. Where is my email notification of my win? I had been apprised at the beginning that my reward might take until May 8th to show up. It is all electronic.Shouldn't it have arrived? I reread the first sentence on the screenshot shown above "Thanks for participating in the Star Dash! Look for an email by May 8 to see if you've won."
If, you've won? If????? A two letter word! Wait. There might be another interpretation.
Does that mean those who successfully completed the dash are now in another pool where a winner is selected from the universe of those who have earned the stars? I obsess about this little word "if"and its meaning in this context. If If If...over and over and over.

My plan was not to plan. Sigh...

Early morning May 6 (I have restless leg and its by-products and am awake) while perusing my phone activity, I notice a red badge on my Starbucks icon app. I tap and check.There it is! 20 stars... I win!!!!

And later that day, the official notification. See pic following.
Did everyone who earned 20 stars win? I don't know. But the wording says earned so I think so.

LIAM LAPPING A LATTE

Liam and I enjoyed our free latte today, LiamLicks day!  And have almost enough stars in the bank for another
Woo hoo
Win Win
Woof Woof