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’d love the Samsung Galaxy to give to my mom, who just shattered her phone screen!
I would love to gift this to my husband he is a fan of this phone
I would love to try out this awesome phone!
I love Samsung and would be so excited to win! I would probably give it to someone who would be blessed by a new phone.
I’d love the Samsung Galaxy for the camera!! No more “smile guys… wait for it…. hang on a sec, it’s just warming up… keep smiling…” type of drill for this girl!
I have had an old school phone for what feels like ages and have been trying to sweet talk my parents into getting a newer phone, an upgrade is much needed! As a college student I’m pretty much broke so I would absolutely love to win the Samsung Galaxy, it’d be a wonderful blessing and Christmas gift!
I would love to have a New galaxy s4! I have been having so much trouble with my current phone. Thanks for hosting this great give away!
I have been struggling with iphone reliability and would love to try something new!
I have an iphonne now but have always been interested in the Samsung Galaxy since it has been out!! Thanks!
I WOULD LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE TO WIN THE SAMSUNG GALAXY 4!!! 🙂 I still have a gold old blackberry (crackberry 😛 ) and have had it for soo long! I am on my phone constantly communicating with clients and my fam because I am never home 🙂 Early Christmas present 🙂 ??
OHH and I tweeted 🙂
https://twitter.com/JordynKatherine/status/413524714254913536
I would love to win the phone since my iPhone has been beaten to death by me and my toddlers 🙂
I tweeted!!
Pick me! Pick me! Id love to try the Samsung Galaxy S4 because of the great camera. I find myself using my phone for all pictures because of the convenience and would love a phone that takes better quality pictures than what I currently have.
This would make an amazing Christmas gift for my husband.
I would love to upgrade to the New Galaxy since I’ve had the same small Blackberry for a little over three years! It would be awesome to win this! Thanks.
This would be perfect timing cause my buttons aren’t working anymore
follow you on twitter and tweeted
https://twitter.com/SaraMama/status/413525631394009089
Heard so many things about the Samsung galaxy. Hope I win and get to try it out….or maybe give it as a gift! Happy holidays!
My husband has been so supportive this year through a job change, moving to a new city, and our first months of marriage. This would be the perfect gift for him–he deserves an upgrade from his old phone!
It would make a fantastic gift!!!!
I would love to win it so I can give it to my mom who has an old school flip phone!
My husband would LOVE to have that phone! He is literally the best person in my life and deserves it so much!
I want one because I need a new phone!
I’ve heard great things about the Samsung galaxy, would love to see for my self!
I have had the same phone for 3 years and definitely need an upgrade! Good to know about Verizon’s program! Thanks for the opportunity!
How cool! I’m due for a Verizon upgrade, but it would be nice to win one too!
My mom and sister both just got the S4 and I have really been wanting to join the club!
I would love to win the Samsung Galaxy S4 for my daughter. Her present phone is lousy; it keeps disconnecting, especially when we’re in the middle of a conversation!
Tweeted!
Oooh so ready for an upgrade and ALLLL I want in a smartphone is a nice camera!! Thanks for the opportunity Julie
I would love to have this phone. I have had this same cheap phone for the past 6 years….Its full of buttons and looks pretty dated. Being a mom usually means I put myself last. HA!
I would love it because my friend has the Galaxy and I’m always jealous of it!
OMG I am the only blogger without a smart phone! I’d love this!
I never had an android device so I want to try this out
https://twitter.com/rayraycartucci/status/413532501743636480
I tweeted too! Have a very Happy Holiday EVERYONE!
Would LOVE to have a better phone/camera to take pics of my two boys this holiday! We have joined-custody of our boys and only have then on holidays/school breaks.summer – so pics are very important to us when we are together.
Seems like the S4 has an amazing camera and i love the galaxy phones.
too bad I don’t have twitter tho! thanks for the info!
After seven years with a flip phone, have been eyeing smartphones for a few months, and the Samsung Galaxy S4 is my favorite, but I just haven’t been able to take the plunge yet–what a perfect “gift” it would be!
Amazing giveaway! I think I am the only person I know that doesn’t have a smart phone yet. I have had my Verizon Samsung “Intensity II” (whatever that means…) for 4 years and I just can’t let it go. This would be the incentive I need to join the 21st century haha
Oh my goodness, my current phone is 3 years old and randomly turns on and off by itself! A new phone would be a wonderful treat!
I would love to buy the Samsung Galaxy because i’ve never ever had one and my iPhone has been slowly dying and I really really depend on my phone but I can’t buy a new one right now because I’m in college and can’t spend on those phones but I would love to have it, I really would.
I’d love to give the s4 to my mom! She could use a new phone but won’t spend money on herself.
I’d like to win the Samsung Galaxy S4 because I’ve heard wonderful things about it! My current phone’s camera is pretty underwhelming in terms of photo quality, and a great camera is one of the main things I’ve heard are great about the Galaxy!
My iphone was stolen 3 months ago, it was a gift from my sister and as I’m not currently working I cannot afford to buy another phone so I need a phone ASAP!
Tweeted here —> https://twitter.com/anshaffer/status/413538749499207680
Wow! I would love to win this and give it to my best friend!
What a way to replace my half usable phone!! Great giveaway!
I can’t even believe how perfect this giveaway is right now! I am trying to move from a broken iphone 4 to a new galaxy 4!
my husband has this phone and i LOVE it. so maybe i am ready to switch from an iPhone.
Just tweeted! @kellyleecrazy