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 just dropped my old phone in the toilet the other day…I am desperate for a new phone! I am currently suffering with my old flip phone 😉
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/jovansjourney/status/413436382401417217
tweeted!
And I tweeted: https://twitter.com/FitnessalaAnna/status/413436137818955776
I would love to win this giveaway because I’ve always been an apple girl, so it would be SO cool to try something new!
My mom needs a new cell phone so this would be a great Christmas present!
Oh my gosh, that is so cool! My poor phone is on its last legs and I’ve been looking for another one but haven’t taken the plunge.
I would love to win this because my dad needs a new phone really badly! Awesome giveaway!
Tweeted
I’m ready for a change, my iphone 4s has been lagging and shutting off!
https://twitter.com/steeeeeno/status/413437155256463360
I tweeted!
I would love to win the phone for my hubs for a extra Christmas gift, he’s in dire need!
well i have a “not-so-smart” phone with the slide to the side keyboard. super fancy schmancy. our basement flooded and our digital camera broke in the same week back in late august. i have been without a camera since then because getting the basement back to order was a higher priority. i really MISS my camera. good luck to everyone and “may the odds be ever in your favor!”
🙂
tweeted!!
This is an awesome giveaway! My phone has some technical difficulties, so this would be wonderful!
I would LOVE to win this, Julie, because…guess what? I don’t have a cell phone and have never had a cell phone! I might be the last remaining person that can say that! I want one desperately, but I’ve been trying to fit it into my budget…and I really want a nice one like this! I keep planning to figure it out and finally get myself one (and get out of the dark ages), but so far that hasn’t happened. So winning this one would be unbelievably helpful!! Too good to be true!! And believe me, I would tell everyone I know just how it came into my life!! 🙂
My toddler dropped my iPhone on cement and the screen is completely destroyed. Mama needs a new phone (and a really child-proof case apparently)!
I tweeted!
What timing! I would love to win the Samsung Galaxy S4 for my husband who is currently looking for a new phone. His smartphone has practically no battery life and he has to charge it numerous times throughout the day. He would LOVE this new phone!
Hello Julie,
I would LOVE the Samsung Galaxy S4 Smartphone because currently I just have a TracFone. I’m being really serious here! The reason: I used to have a Verizon account for years and years and years, and they were WONDERFUL to me. BUT…recently I had to downgrade my budget (for reasons) and so I switched to a pre-paid TracFone. I would LOVE the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone though, b/c I wouldn’t have to purchase a new phone. I could now afford a basic Internet/Text/Phone Verizon plan with it now, I believe. BUT I would LOVE to win this Giveaway! That would be a wonderful Christmas gift!
~Amy 🙂
Ah a new phone would be wonderful! I’m definitely due for an upgrade!
I also tweeted about the giveaway here – http://bit.ly/1dPgm3R
What?! Haha. I would LOVE to win this giveaway! It’s just in time for Christmas, and my techie boyfriend (who is in need of a new phone) would love this. Hoping to win!!
Hey Julie!
I would LOVE to win this phone! My current phone is a fossil and my one year old; whose just happens to be…..Sadie, drops it all the time. It’s cracked in like 20 different places across the screen. Also, it take the slowest pictures; making it rather difficult to snap my Sadie when we are out and about. Really hope I win this one!
My husband won’t upgrade to a smart phone so I want to win this for him. I’m tired of not being able to text him. Yes that’s how old his phone is no texting.
I would LOVE to win this phone! I need an upgrade! 🙂
I would actually love to give this phone to my sister for a much-needed upgrade!
I have dropped my phone so many times it is cracked. I need to upgrade.
I would love to win this! What a great Christmas present!!
wow! that is awesome! I would want the galaxy because my Dad has been holding off on getting a smart phone and his flip phone is tearing at the hinges! lol It would be such a great Christmas/birthday gift for him!!!!
As embarrassing as it is to admit, I would love to win this because I dropped my phone in the toilet and it hasn’t been working the same ever since!
I also tweeted! woohoo! crossing my fingers!!
I would love this phone sooo much!
I tweeted!
And would love to win this–one of Mashables Top Tech of the Year
My phone is currently on it’s last leg, so it would be great to start the new year off with a snazzy new one!
I desperately need a new phone to replace the original iPhone that I have had for over 4 years!
I tweeted!
i need a new phone~!!!!
I want to win because my brother and his wife are refusing to buy my 14-year-old niece a phone and I want to give her one for Christmas! She’s a freshman in high school and the only one in her grade who doesn’t have a cellphone!
tweeted! @squigglemefloey
I know the likelihood of winning this are slim, considering the massive amounts of entries, but my parents are in DESPERATE need of new cell phones. As in, their phones are the old (4+ year old) flip phones. If I won, I would gift this to them. 🙂
My current verizon phone is 7 yrs old! I have not yet made it to a smartphone, but maybe this would motivate me to change!
i would love to be able to give this phone to my mom as a gift! she has said she needs a new phone and has made me “just stop into best buy to check out the s4” on more than one occasion!
I have that phone, and I love it. So, I’d like to win it for my husband!
My current phone was dropped in water and it’s on it’s last leg:) I can’t upgrade until July so I would love to try something new if I won!
I’ve been debating between the Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S but leaning toward the Samsung! My current phone is hanging on its last limb, and this would be an amazing giveaway to win 🙂
I tweeted!
I would love to win!
My mom still has a flip phone so this would be great for her!
I would love this for my tech gadget loving husband!