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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I think this would be a great gift for my brother! He designs apps and loves all things technological.
I tweeted!!
I’ve heard really great things about the Galaxy phones and I’m waaaay overdue for an upgrade!
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/hollymarie076/status/413501939947556865
I’d love the Samsung Galaxy. My fiance has this phone and loves it. Lots of cool features and great camera!
I’d love the Samsung Galaxy because i’m so behind this smartphone trend!
I am in the market for a different phone and like my friends’ galaxy. It would be fun to try a different brand.
I Love my iPhone but I miss widgets and the personalization of an android!
I’ve had an iphone for years and would love to try something new!
I tweeted!!
I would love to have a better camera on my phone and the screen is huge!
I tweeted for an extra entry!
I’m ready for a new gadget. Who doesn’t love an upgrade?!
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/runnaroundd/status/413505518418677760
My phone is terribly old and I’ve had lots of friends move to the galaxy and love it! I’d love to upgrade and give it a try!
My sister and best friend have this phone and it’s amazing. I would love to get this in time for Xmas.
so need this! My phone is about dead!
Ohhh I want it to test out a camera!
tweeted!
“akhestilow”
What an awesome giveaway! I would love to win this…. I’m still rocking the iPhone 3.
I tweeted
I would love to win it because I have been falling out of love with my iPhone :-/ we were so good together in the beginning……
My fiancé has the note and I love all the features it has! This would be so much fun to have and play with!
I’d love to win. I want to replace my phone and this looks great.
I’d love to win this for my mom, she just dropped her galaxy & shattered the screen! Oops!
I tweeted 🙂
I’d love to try out that fancy phone!
My husband has been anxiously waiting to change to a samsung, this would be the perfect time!!
I would love a new phone with a great camera to take fabulous pictures of our new puppy!
The battery life on my iPhone is killing me. I really need a new phone!
I would love to win this and give to my hubby. He just bought me a new phone and I would like to return the favor. Plus he loves all things Samsung!
I currently have an iPhone, but I have heard really great things about Samsung and have been wanting to make a switch.
My phone is terribly old and I need an upgrade!
My screen is cracked and I need a new phone. Please!
id give this to my fiance as a present– his phone is barely working and he needs a new one but wont splurge— he’d LOVE the galaxy!
I’d love to win to try out an android for the first time! I’m curious if I’ll enjoy it more!
I dropped my Droid Bionic in the toilet over Thanksgiving and have been using my husband’s old (SLOW) Incredible 2 until I have an upgrade credit. I would love to win a new phone!
Would love this!! Seems like it has great features. Have heard amazing things about it.
I would love to win this giveaway so that I can gift the phone to my mom! She is in desperate need of a new phone, and I JUST got the Iphone 5s, so I don’t need one myself. Would be a really cool Christmas gift!
I would love a new phone and I’ve heard amazing things about this one! I still have one of the old iPhones and I need an upgrade badly.
I would love to win that phone for a bazillion reasons…the new technology looks awesome, and so does the camera on it!
I want to win the Galaxy S4 to upgrade my mom’s flip phone!!
I have had my eye on the Samsung Galaxy S4 for awhile now. My old phone has been giving me problems and I am way overdue for an upgrade! This would be the perfect little Christmas treat for myself!! 🙂
I love Samsung phones! I have a rather old Samsung cell phone that I use (for emergencies only) but I would really love to win a new one 🙂
I tweeted about this giveaway 🙂
I definitely need a phone upgrade. I call my phone a “dumb phone” instead of a smartphone haha!
I would be so excited for either phone! My current camera has a scratch on it, and a new, nicer camera would be great for my upcoming honeymoon:)
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/abbydumont/status/413521114308956160
would be a great present for my sister!!!!
Tweeted!