Up for Apple

Is anybody else still awake?

I admit, I took a bit of a nap between midnight and one, because work was hectic today and I was exhausted. But now I'm obsessively refreshing two different web pages, both for the same reason.

That can only mean one thing...

It's iPhone 5 pre-order day!

And yes, I am sitting up in bed, quivering with excitement, Visa clutched anxiously in hand as I spend some time debating, last minute, whether or to pre-order from Apple's website, or AT&T's.

Refresh. Refresh. Refresh. Repeat.

 I am really, really excited about this phone. Okay, to be fair, I get really excited for most Apple products. What can I say? I'm a brand fan. But I've been anticipating iPhone 5 since last year, when the iPhone 4S rolled out. I waited on upgrading then, even though I really wanted to play with Siri, and now it's paying off—no pesky hassles with AT&T and two-year contracts not-yet-ready to be upgraded.

I'm thinking I'm going to go for the 64gb White/Silver phone. I think it looks slick, modern, and classy.

*UPDATE*

iPhone 5 is now available to pre-order! And I am pretty sure it could not have gone smoother.

iPhone 5, soon you shall be mine!

Oddly enough, while Apple's website (and AT&T's website) sat useless, still not taking pre-orders, the Apple Store App on my iPhone 4 was up and running almost the second it was supposed to.

As you can see, I ordered the White & Silver 64gb iPhone 5. And I managed to not accidentally knock myself off of the several-times-grandfathered-in Unlimited Data plan.

So all in all, this late-night/early-morning was worth it! My shiny new phone should be headed my way sometime on the 21st, and I'm sure I don't have to tell you that you can expect and unboxing post in the near future, with a review post to follow!

Any of you guys trying to pre-ordered iPhone 5 tonight, too—Good luck! :D

Starbucks on the Go

For those of you who know me, this isn't a big surprise, but I love Starbucks. I mean, I love Starbucks. I'm that person who walks in and is greeted with, "You want the usual?" Yes. I'm addicted and predictable. I am not ashamed.


Ever since Starbucks introduced their new rewards program—My Starbucks Rewards—I've been forced to use a pre-loaded card to buy my delicious drinks. Rather inconvenient, especially if I've got cash but my card is empty, because then I can't get a star and my purchase doesn't go toward earning my free drink. However, this became a lot less inconvenient when Starbucks introduced their Starbucks Card Mobile App. Which is the first of the two mobile apps I'm promoting/reviewing/recommending. 


Warning: This post contains a gratuitous amount of screen-caps. 
Consider yourself warned. ;-)

Starbucks Card Mobile App

The Starbucks Card Mobile App is handy for so many reasons! First, if you have a registered Starbucks card, you can add it to the app. I have three cards on mine; not sure if there's a limit, but I bet that wouldn't be a problem for most people. After you add your cards, you can check your card balance—and if you're runnin' on empty, you can even reload 'em right from your iPhone. I can't tell you how many times I added a quick five bucks to my card while I waited in line. Super handy!


Another cool thing you can do with the Starbucks mobile app is pay for your coffee with your iPhone! Literally! This isn't available at every location yet. According to the app, there are 1017 stores participating. But basically what it does is put up a barcode on your screen that can be scanned. I haven't had the chance to try this myself, but I'm pretty stoked to try it out.


You can also track your stars, or rewards. Every time you use your registered Starbucks card to make a purchase, you earn a star. After 15 stars, Starbucks mails you a coupon for a free drink. (Side note: I'd LOVE to see Starbucks implement a non-snail-mail version of their Free Drink coupon.) It's nice to be able to keep up with how many drinks short you are from getting your next free one. Just sayin'...

Check your balance.
As you can see, I've been broke since May...

Reload right from your phone!

Pay for your coffee...
using your iPhone!

Check your stars!
I have a ways to go.

myStarbucks App

The other app on my agenda is the myStarbucks App. This app has a bunch of cool features. The "My Starbucks" page shows you things you've favorited: Stores, drinks, coffees, and food. So when you find your new favorite store, or the best Frappuccino since sliced bread, you can add it to your favorites and not have to browse for it all over again.


Under "Stores," you can search for Starbucks locations near you. Or even near where you're going. Say I was taking a trip to Austin. I could plan ahead and know where I'd be able to stop and grab some coffee on the road. When you find a store, you can also check their hours of operation, which is admittedly very helpful. Especially if you're on the road early or late. Instead of getting off the highway, or going out of your way only to find out that particular Starbucks is closed, you can know before you go. Added bonus? You can invite your friends to that location! If you decide to invite them, it'll send out a text message to anyone you choose from your phone contacts with an invitation to hook up for some drinks, plus the address of the location you're at! That gets a big thumbs up from me!


The myStarbucks App boasts a "Drink Builder," which is particularly handy if you tend to customize your drinks, like I do. Personal favorite—Mocha Frappuccino, add caramel, nix the whipped cream, give me both drizzles, please! You can create multiple favorite drinks, and if it's just too complicated for you to explain, show your friendly barista and they'll make it happen. The drink builder will also show you nutrition information, although I'm not 100% sure how accurately it reflects the drink customization. Still, not a bad ball-park idea if you're trying to watch your calories.


The "Coffees" page has a list of brewed coffees, when they're available, as well as a description of each kind. You can also "explore"their blends. Options like "smooth," "caramelly," "intense," etc. will help you find the flavor that's right for you!


Lastly, "Food." This page lists off the foods that Starbucks serves, along with what time of year they're served, nutrition info, allergens, and even pairing suggestions.

myStarbucks Mobile App.

My myStarbucks homepage.
Where I keep my favorites!

The hours for the Starbucks closest to me.
Isn't 9 like, super early to close?!

Meet me! Well, in theory...

The Drink Builder.

Browse Starbucks' coffee blends.

Not sure what you want?
Explore.

Food! These are just from the
"Breads & Bagels" page.

Pumpkin Bread! My guilty pleasure.

Both of these apps have come in super handy for me, a true Starbucks addict/fan/lover. And best of all, both of these apps are FREE. Check out the iTunes store, search "Starbucks" if you'd like to download them and test them out for yourself!

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

It was supposed to storm yesterday. I think we got a little rain, but mostly just clouds. Don't get me wrong, I love clouds. I really love overcast days. I've just been desperate for a storm, so I was a little disappointed.

But the near-storm weather made for some particularly gorgeous clouds, and on my way back from grabbing a bite for dinner I just had to stop and take a few pictures. I couldn't resist.

Couldn't resist this view.

Silver lining.

Favorite.

I took the liberty of playing with some effects on these last few.

Sepia = favorite.

Side note: If you're wondering what the picture quality is on iPhone 4, I took all of these with my phone. The effects added were all added with apps I downloaded from the App Store. Specifically, CameraBag and Best Camera.