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.
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I want to win the samsung galaxy four to use as a christmas present!!!! or keep it for it’s awesome camera for my blog photos! 🙂
I would love the samsung galaxy s4! My iphone 4 is still slowly chugging along, but I have a feeling it is not going to last much longer.
I have the iPhone 5, but would love a change/upgrade! Some lucky family member of mine could also receive it as a gift. 🙂 This Verizon Edge program sounds neat, too. Great giveaway–thanks!!
I would LOVE to win the Galaxy! My Iphone 4s is on the outs and I really want to try something new!
What an awesome give away!! My phone is about three years old and seems to have hit its expiration date so a new Samsung would be amazing! 🙂
My husband’s phone is very old and about to die, so this would be SUCH a great holiday gift for him!
I tweeted! @ashleykopps
I would love to win this phone because I do not have a personal cell phone. I use my work phone also as my personal and it would be great to have my own phone! I have heard awesome things about the Samsung Galaxy S4!
I’d love it for my husband… his old Motorola has seen much better days but he’s still got another year until he can upgrade. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love this giveaway as I recently cracked the screen on my current verizon smartphone! Whomp whomp!
I tweeted @PBFingers & @Verizonwireless !!!
I would love a new phone. My phone has seen a lot of lovin and oopsies which include a cracked screen. But the darn thing still holds on to life, so its hard to part with but the new Galaxies are amazing so I think I could manage. 🙂
I LOVE the droid operating system. I’m overdue for an upgrade but I love my phone too much to risk upgrading. However, this Samsung could be just the kick I need. Happy Holidays.
This is an amazing giveaway!! I still have not even updated to a smartphone, so I would love to try the Samsung Galaxy S4!!
I don’t even use my camera anymore – I always rely on my phone – so with an updated camera feature, I’d love this!!
I want to win because I have been wanting one of these forever and need a new cell!!
I need a new phone!!!
Awesome prize. I would love a new cell phone!
Yes, of course, would love to upgrade to new phone! Woot!
My boyfriend has been talking about the Galaxy S4, and I would love to win it for him. 🙂
I love my current phone, but I would love to win the Galaxy 4s for my sister! She doesn’t have a smart phone because she is a stay at home mom and puts her entire effort, time, and money towards her 2 kids. She would absolutely LOVE this!
Wow I’d love to try the Galaxy 4S! I am an exclusive iPhone user and I’ve heard good things about the Samsung phone
I have an iPhone 4 and althought it’s been great, I’m not loyal to any brand and te battery life on this phone is not great. I’d like something that is more reliable. What an awesome giveaway!!!
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/parkerozgood/status/413712447103438848
I would love to win this phone. I have been wanting a Galaxy 4S for a while but can’t upgrade yet!
I have a three year old phone (that was outdated when I got it) so I’d be totally stoked to have some modern technology in my hands! I’d love to win this!
My brothers iphone got stolen and I would love to give the new galaxy to him for his birthday on Dec 29!
OBSESSED with this phone! Love how big the screen is and am totally ready to make the jump to Samsung!
I would love a new phone to gift to my MIL!
I currently have an old iPhone 4. Certain buttons are broken on it and it’s slow. My husband is deployed in Afghanistan right now so I use my phone a lot to communicate with him via e-mail or phone calls. Having a new phone, the Galaxy S4, would be amazing and would allow me be able to talk with him and send better pictures of life at home. 🙂
I would love to win the Galaxy 4S to give to my close friend as a Christmas gift!
I tweeted! @laurenptate
I’d love a Samsung Galaxy S4. I FINALLY got my first smartphone – Samsung galaxy legend – earlier this month (a little behind the times right here) and I’m hooked.
I am due for a new phone and have only heard good things about the s4! I would love to try it out! It’s not really in our budget right now to upgrade as I’m not currently working (on maternity leave)
I would love to win the Galaxy 4s because well my phone stinks. It needs to be replaced before it dies completely. I love the screen and camera quality on the G4S
I also tweeted.
I always love a new gadget to play this phone would be great!
my iphone 4s is starting to act wonky, so this would be great! =)
I am currently phoneless so winning the Galaxy 4s would be awesome!
i’ve been eyeing this phone for months!
I have been resisting jumping on the smart phone bandwagon, but this could be just the thing to push me over!
I am patiently awaiting my verizon upgrade to make the switch to a Samsung galaxy. Maybe this could help me upgrade faster
I’ve been wanting this phone for a few months. I’m not due for an upgrade for awhile. I’m not to happy with my current phone so I’d love to try this one!
I want to win the phone because I have an ancient smart phone that freezes every time I try to do something on it!
I also tweeted for the giveaway. @jmaroney34
I am in need of a new phone…this one would be awesome!
I so desperately need a new phone! Mine is so old and I have to leave it charging constantly because the battery no longer keeps it alive for more than a few minutes. I’ve heard such great things about the galaxy phones, that would be a huge improvement!
I can’t even imagine what having an updated phone would do for me. I still have a Samsung flip phone from four years ago!
I would give it to a young man who works as a tech at the vet clinic I work at. He has been through so much in his life and has a very old cracked phone. I know he couldn’t afford to get a new one so this would be an awsome gift for him.
I’d love to win this phone to give to my sister! Hers just broke so it would be perfect timing 🙂