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 would love to win, my phone is 2 years old. I am in need of an upgrade.
I would love to win this phone because I am due for a new phone and this was the phone I was going to pick next!!! 🙂
I still have a “not smart” phone. It is way past time for a new phone:)
I would give it to my husband who is still using a flip phone!! He’s overdue for an upgrade, but never buys things for himself.
I would like to win so that i could give it to my daughter who is in desperate need of a new phone. Her screen is cracked, it doesnt ring anymore and to answer the phone you need to tap the back really hard –
tweeted @khayden20
I would want to win so I could gift the phone to my brother in law who is still using the most basic flip phone available!
I tweeted!
Because I want to give it to my mom!
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/collifornia/status/413794703344037888
I’d love to win the phone because I’ve had my iPhone for two years now, and it’s about time for it to be retired!
I would love this phone to give to my little sister for Christmas!!
I want to win for my boyfriend! His S3 is in its last days
I would love to give this phone a try – a nice upgrade from my Iphone 4S
I have the Samsung galaxy S3 and I love it. The S4 would be awesome!
I have the Samsung galaxy S3 and I love it. The S4 would be awesome!
Tweeted: I would love to win a SGS4 from #VZWFF! The S4 has a totally AWESOME screen, good battery life and my love affair with my 2 1/2 year old SGS3 needs a little help from it’s bigger brother.
I’d love a new phone! My battery doesn’t hold a charge! 🙂
I’d love to win it so I could give it to my husband. He’s got an OLD phone and would love to upgrade to a smart phone finally!
I would love to upgrade from my current phone!
I have had the same iphone for about 3 years now and really want to switch it up and try a galaxy! They look awesome!
I would like to try a Samsung!
I’ve had the same phone for about 5 years now and am looking for an upgrade!
Amaaaazinggg!! I would love to win the Samsung Galaxy phone because the screen is SO BIG and I’ve heard about all the cool/innovative/out of the box features this phone has! Like tappin’ the top of the phone will bring you to the top of whatever webpage you’re searchin’, facing the phone down when it rings will mute the call (handy if you’re in a meeting), etc.! What a great giveaway 🙂
Would love new phone…Slowly but surely this Iphone 4S is going down hill and I still have a year til my upgrade! Also, the camera would be a nice added bonus!
My husband would love one.
I would love this phone. I’ve been having issues with mine lately and would love to try something new!
I would love to surprise my husband with this! He’s the last one on the plan to not yet have a smart phone, and he totally deserves one!
I tweeted!
I so need a new phone and the Galaxy look AWESOME!!!!
I tweeted!!!
I would love the new Samsung Galaxy because my poor 2-year-old Android is on its last legs!
I’d love to have the Galaxy S4 since my iPhone 4 is slowly dying and I’ve always been very jealous of my fiancé’s Galaxy S4!
I would love the Galaxy S4 since my iPhone 4s keeps giving me a SIM failure and losing service.
I would love a Galaxy S4 since I have been living in the non-smart phone world for a long time. I am graduating from college in June and will hopefully starting a job where a smart phone will come in handy!
I would love to win bc my VMobile phone is 2 years old and falling apart 🙁 Thanks!
https://twitter.com/OliviaDe84/status/413852136284229632 Tweet tweet!!
I have an S3 but the faster processor in the S4 would make for a significant upgrade.
I tweeted.
I would absolutely love this new phone!! I am a college student going to school in Iowa, and my current cell provider and cell phone gives me really spotty service while at school. I try to talk to my family, back home in Colorado, multiple times a week and usually my phone calls are dropped. Verizon is the only service that provides good cell service out here. Since being at school, I have realized the importance of communication, especially when it comes to family!! I am really close to my parents and love to still be involved in their lives even living three states away. I would really love this new phone to make it easier to stay in contact with my family!!
I’d love to win a S4 because my S3’s life span seems like it’s nearing the end.
My mom could really use this! She would be thrilled!
I’m hoping to win this phone because I’m tired of being ashamed of my flip phone.
So my power and home button on my iphone are no longer functional. A new phone would be awesome!!
My tweet: https://twitter.com/dyseanna/status/413861361429405698 😛
I really want to give this to my father in law!
I would love to get the samsung galaxy s4! I currently have the motorolla razor and the battery is on the fritz and lasts half the day. I’d love a new phone to be able to work all day!
I don’t have a smart phone. Yup, still stuck in the dark ages. This would be a great way to check out the smartphone world!
I had an S3 and it was the best thing ever. And then I left it in a cab and my world was shattered. Need this!! These phones are amazing
I’d love to win because my Galaxy S3 is on it’s last leg. My best friend has the S4 and loves it!
Because I have been wanting to switch to this phone for the camera!