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’ve been holding off on a Smartphone for such a long time! I’m thinking next time I have an upgrade, I’ll be landing on the other side of the fence as it’s just getting too difficult to keep up without one. This would be a nice way to break into the world of smartphones 🙂
I tweeted – https://twitter.com/trinicutiegal/status/413445320190611457
I love Apple products!
My husband is dying for a new phone, and I know he’d be suuuuper excited to get the Samsung Galaxy S4!
I would love to win the phone..I would probably give it to my boyfriend since the main button on his current phone is broken! Thank you!
My phone is really old, so winning this would be amazing!
I finally upgraded to a smart phone last year and after much debate I went with the iPhone 5. I know several people that own the Samsung Galaxy S4 and it has so many cool features that the iPhone is lacking. I would to love to win one!
I would love to win the phone because my galaxy s3 has a broken screen!
My sister could really use a new phone! She hasn’t had a new phone in forever, and she could use an upgrade!
I would love the phone because I NEED an upgrade!
tweeted @aliciaa_july
My dad could really use this!
I would love to win to see how this phone matches up with the iPhone!
My phone is on its last leg… it took a swim in the toilet last year and hasn’t been quite the same since. I could go for an upgrade!
I’d love to win the Samsung Galaxy S4 because it has so many great features – the camera looks awesome!
Ooh! I would love to win this because I recently washed my iPhone with the sheets… Not my greatest moment.
I would love to upgrade for the 13mp camera
I tweeted about the giveaway.
https://twitter.com/gigigirl1037/status/413449316590555137
Because I have a “dumb” phone aka an orange flip phone circa 2003. I’d love an upgrade!
I would love to win that phone for the camera! I have a friend who has it and takes awesome pictures!
My Niece is just about that age where she is wanting a phone! So, this would be the perfect Christmas gift for her!
Wow, this would be awesome! Who could pass up a new phone, not me!
Time for an upgrade. Would love to win this amazing phone!!!
I’ve been an iPhone user since they first came out and I’ve been less and less impressed with them lately, I’m itching to move to something else. I have been eyeing the Galaxy S4 and the Nokia Lumia, so it would be so cool to win one (it would make my choice easier).
My current phone’s battery will not hold a charge so a new phone would be great!
This would be amazing!! My husband would love this for Christmas!
Mama needs a new phone! I have been window shopping for the Samsung for the past 6months. I have an old Blackberry (if you can believe it) and cannot use with any of the cool new apps and fitness trackers. This would be a FANTASTIC win!!
Oooooh would love this!! I have the iPhone 4, but I’m sooooo sick of apple. And in desperate need of an upgrade with a better camera for pictures for my blog!
I’d love to win because my phone is so old and I am in need of an update!
I’ve had the same old slider phone for 4 years and am looooonnnnggg overdue for a new phone!
How awesome! My boyfriend has been wanting to switch up to this exact phone!
My phone is on it’s last legs, so the new phone would be a dream for me!
My phone is incredibly old and I am already looking for new one. This phone would be perfect!
I would love to try a phone with a bigger screen than what I already have. My 40+ year old eyes need it : – o
tweet-tweet https://twitter.com/cafeconalma/status/413452652601540608
I would love a Samsung S4 🙂 I doubt one will be under the christmas tree this year and I am fed up with my current broken phone!!
I’ve been hanging onto my iPhone 4s for too long. Time for an upgrade!
My current oldie phone is taking on a mind of it’s own… A new galaxy would be amazing!
I would surprise a friend who always uses hand me down phones.
I refuse to upgrade because I don’t want to lose my unlimited data package, so I’ve been using a broken phone for about a year. The charging port hasn’t worked for at least six months and I’ve had to charge the battery in an old phone instead. Such. A. Pain. This would be a great fix!
I’d love this phone because the screen is SO big and I’ve heard the camera is awesome. I pretty much only use my cell phone anymore for taking pictures.
I’d love to win because my droid is older than dirt!
I’ve been needing a new phone for a while now, so this would be perfect! I love my iPhone but wouldn’t mind a phone with a bigger screen.
I tweeted about the awesome giveaway!
I would love to win this phone because it would be perfect for my band. I am the coordinator, so I would love to have this phone to use for my band. So excited! 🙂 God bless you!
Elena
http://thewholefruit.tumblr.com/
I would love to win a phone with such a great camera!
I’ve been dying for one of these!! The camera is awesome and I love the bigger screen.
I STILL do not own a smart phone of any kind! I would love to finally join the 21st century!
I would love to win the Samsung Galaxy S4… I am still using the old school phone! Time to upgrade just haven’t gotten around to it!
I would love a Samsung Galaxy S4! My current phone barely makes it until the afternoon without recharging it and the Internet is soooo slow. The Samsung would be a huge upgrade!