The following post is sponsored by FitFluential, LLC on behalf of Verizon Wireless. (And it features a seriously rockin’ giveaway!!!)
Lunch at Stella’s Modern Pantry
Today is flyin’ by!
After I published my morning blog post, I headed out the door for a quick workout before I had to train a client and attend a lunch meeting for the Taste of Ocala. I wish I had time to shower in between, but hopefully the patrons at Stella’s Modern Pantry can forgive me for showing up looking a little worse for wear.
I’ve popped into Stella’s a time or two before, but just to browse around their eclectic kitchenware and gourmet food products. This was my first time dining at the casual restaurant and I was really impressed with the food.
I ordered the salad of the day that came with pine nuts, fresh Parmesan, roasted peppers, marinated onions, olives and sundried tomatoes. It was fantastic!
I also had a cup of mint tea because it was quite chilly inside.
Our meeting lasted a little less than two hours and then I took some time to browse around before driving home. Stella’s always has such fun stuff and I figured I might be able to find something for Christmas for the hard-to-buy-for people in my life.
My friend Jennie and I thought these Rewind candles smelled fantastic.
I love that they are made with recycled wine bottles. Too cool, huh!? (They also come with a hefty price tag.)
I ended up leaving empty handed but I have a few gift ideas in the back of my mind that I may go back for at some point this weekend.
Once I said goodbye to everyone, I headed home to type up this afternoon blog post which includes one heck of an amazing giveaway.
Are you guys ready for this!?
Yes, that is a brand new Samsung Galaxy S4!!!
I am pretty sure this is one of the most valuable – if not the most valuable – giveaways ever offered on PBF. I am so, so, so thrilled to be able to feature this on the blog today!
Verizon Edge
This amazing giveaway is possible thanks to a campaign with FitFluential and Verizon Wireless. I am honored to be able to offer this giveaway – especially right in the middle of the holiday season!
After I applied to be a part of this campaign, I received a bunch of information about Verizon, who has been my service provider ever since I had a cell phone. One of the most recent developments within the company is the new Verizon Edge program.
Verizon Edge allows you to get a new Verizon phone this year, and every year after that with no upgrade fees and no long-term service contract.
Here are the highlights of Verizon Edge:
- First, pick a phone! The full retail price of the phone you select is split into 24 monthly payments, and added to your usual monthly bill.
- Use your phone for six months and, with at least 50 percent of your phone’s price paid off, you are now eligible to upgrade. you’re eligible for upgrades
- Now you can “edge up” and trade in your existing phone for a new one.
One question I asked was whether or not you had to stick to a certain brand and the answer is no! You can choose an Apple iPhone and use it for six months and then “edge up” to the Samsung Galaxy S4 the next time if you want to try something new.
iPhone 5s
Another development within Verizon that I’m sure many of you already know all about is the launch of the Apple iPhone 5s and 5c. I recently upgraded to the 5s and have been incredibly impressed with the quality of the camera.
Of course Sadie is my number one photography subject.
That picture, as well as all of the pictures from my lunch featured in the beginning of this blog post were taken with my iPhone 5s and were not edited in any way.
I love the camera and can absolutely tell a difference in the quality of my photos from the original iPhone 5. The new phone has a slightly larger sensor (1/3 vs 1/3.2 inch) and seems to produce better images in very bright lighting. I’ve also noticed that it seems to snap photos faster which is key for photographing moving subjects like Sadie (or me on a wedding dance floor).
So now let’s move on to the part of this post I am sure you’re all most excited about… The giveaway!!!
Samsung Galaxy S4
One PBF reader will have the chance to win a Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone, equipped with a 13–megapixel, premium point–and–shoot camera and 5–inch full HD display!
There are two ways to enter this giveaway:
1. Comment below telling me why you want to win the Samsung Galaxy S4
2. Tweet some variation of the following: Hoping to win a Samsung Galaxy S4 from @PBFingers and @verizonwireless!!! #vzwff <— Don’t forget to leave a separate comment below, letting me know that you tweeted so I can be sure to count your tweet!
A winner will be randomly selected on Friday.
Twitter Chat Tonight
Verizon and FitFluential will be giving away another Samsung Galaxy S4 tonight! Be sure to check out the Twitter chat this evening at 9 p.m. EST, using the hashtag #VZWFF. Every single hashtagged tweet that goes live during the chat has a chance to win the Samsung Galaxy S4!
P.S. For those of you in the market for a new tablet, Verizon also has a promo on their 4G LTE tablets right now. You can get $100 off any 4G LTE tablet with a two-year activation.
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Oh I love those candles! They are made in Charleston! Also they come on Rue La La fairly frequently if you were interested but not interested in the hefty price! 🙂
ooooh! thanks!! definitely going to look for them!
I have been a long time iPhone user, but my boyfriend just recently purchased the Samsung Galaxy S4 and I’m OBSESSED!!! Would be amazing to win and have one of my own 🙂
My camera just broke and would love a Samsung Galaxy S4… it takes amazing pictures!
The picture quality on this phone is excellent! I have been looking at new phones for awhile and just need to take the plunge!
After the iOS update I’ve been disenchanted with Apple. Ready for a change!
I’ve heard the SAmsung Galaxy has absoultely amazing quality of photos!
This would be an AWESOME gift for my hard-to-please teenage step daughter!
cause i love new gadgets!
my iPhone just broke (due to my cat Bear) hitting it off the counter onto the tile floor! I’ve looked into new phones and I take sooo many pics this would be THE BEST
I would love to win this as my iphone is a couple years old now.
I’m in desperate need of a new phone! Mine has been slowly dying over the past few months and I was planning to buy one soon… free sure beats the $200 or whatever I’ll have to pay otherwise 🙂
My boss has the Samsung Galaxy S4 and I love it! The large screen is perfect for getting some work done on the go. Would definitely be a great treat right before the holidays!
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/meimeiatl/status/413418105205837825
I’ve always wanted to try the Samsung Galaxy S4, but I’m never the one to try something new, or change unless I need to. This would be a great way to do it with no strings attached!
Love this phone! I’ve been needing to upgrade and I love the camera and new features it offers 🙂
I have been envying my moms Galaxy S4. I would love to win the phone and ditch mine Ive been using for the past 4 years.
I would love to win the galaxy bc the “home” button on my phone is on the fritz and malfunctions at the most inopportune times! Annoying!!
Thanks!
My best friend has the Galaxy S4 and she ADORES IT! She’s always telling me that I need to get it, but due to my family using up the upgrades on our family plan, I don’t have an upgrade for another year and a half, even with my current year old phone! 🙁
Absolutely love this phone for the amazing picture quality! What a great giveaway Julie!
I would love the opportunity to win!!! I heard the phone has an amazing camera!!! Thanks Julie!
Love Rewind, being from Charleston these are a staple for us! Love that they have a booth at our market so I get to smell them each week! The best.
Awesome! I’m in desperate need of a new phone – my current one is constantly freezing up on me!
I’d love to be able to give this phone to my dad. His has been giving him lots of problems and a new phone would be great!
I’m dying to have the Samsung Galaxy S4! I’ve had Verizon for about 10 years and will never switch to a different provider. I currently have the HTC Incredible 4 and I’ve had it for about a year. It’s a great phone, but with all the new technology out now, it’s a bit lacking, especially in the camera department. I have a great photography subject too — a doberman named Lily! She’s a lot like Sadie, and is definitely a velcro dog! Great giveaway! 🙂
I would love to win this – because I’ve never won a giveaway and I’ve entered in everyone since you’ve started blogging… and because I’ve had the old Iphone for 3 years, and I think its time for an upgrade 😉
This is a totally awesome giveaway! I have the S3 right now and love the camera so an upgrade would be fabulous! 🙂
I still have a flip phone…’nough said…
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/xaichai/status/413419905342402560
I tweeted! @julienoelw8
I need a new phone and I would absolutely love the Samsung Galaxy S4! Such an amazing phone!
I’d love to win cause I’d love a new phone. I have an iphone and I love it, but I’d kinda like to mix it up!
Just tweeted to win the Samsung Galaxy S4!!!!
I spilled an energy drink on my phone during finals last week. Need I say more? Hahaha.
I would love to win the new Galaxy S4, nothing is quite as exciting as using a new phone!!
I tweeted too!
I would love to win this phone….for my husband! He still has an old school flip phone. He is so practical….It’s not broke so why buy a new one? Seriously, he would love a phone with internet, etc.
We are Verizon customers and love their service:-)
I would love to have the Galaxy S4 because I’m a HUGE fan of the note-taking abilities that the phone has (with the stylus) vs. having to purchase a separate stylus to use with my iPhone. My boyfriend has the S4 and I’m constantly picking it up to play with it!
Well, I still have a very old non-smart phone for personal use that I would love to upgrade. I’m talking slide to reveal a keyboard for texting old.
I also just tweeted about the giveaway!
I would love to win a new phone because I am a broke graduate student living 5 hours from home. My current cell phone doesn’t work 80% of the time which means I have no contact with my family (they aren’t big social media-ers) and that is super sucky. Those candles look amazing! I’m a sucker for candles though, genetic weakness 😉
I LOVE the Samsung phone, especially Verizon! I’ve been wanting to make the switch to Verizon for some time now, so this would help out greatly with the costs of switching phone carriers. The Samsung just has so much to offer – I *love* the widgets on Androids, I think that’s the main reason (other than ‘unlimited’ storage space) I became an Now-Android-Previously-iPhone user
I desperately need a new phone! I’ve been wanting the S4 for quite awhile. It would be great because I’m on the road and traveling for work!
I tweeted too! @ColieMarieL
https://twitter.com/ColieMarieL/status/413420535758868480
I would love to win the Galaxy S4 so I can give it to my husband. I actually have an iPhone 5 that I love so am not in the market to upgrade at this time but his phone can act up at times so he could use it.
i’ve been looking at the s4 for a while, but could never justify making the jump– would love to win one!
I would love to win because I’m stuck in the dark ages with my flip phone!
I would love to give this phone to my hubs!
Honestly, I would love to win the phone for my husband!! He’s been researching the heck out of Samsung and would be totally shocked! <3
I was an iphone girl until my fiance got a galaxy. I would looove to win it. I think they’re so much better all around, but especially the camera!
I would LOVE a new phone, my boyfriends has the the Samsung galaxy S3 and I love it, I constantly steal it to take pictures with (the camera is FABULOUS even though the S3 is almost 2 years old!) while I tote around my 3 year old, constantly crashing Android Incredible 2. It would be amazing to get a new phone before I finish grad school in 2 years!