Freshly Picked: A giveaway!

It's finally here! Your chance to win an adorable pair of Freshly Picked moccasins for your favorite little person!

If you're new to Freshly Picked you've definitely been missing out. They have the cutest leather moccasins for newborns on up to older kiddos. They've come out with lots of new styles and colors and all of them are absolutely precious. I had a hard time choosing for our little gal but I just had to stick with her signature color, coral.

Coral is a color that can definitely be up to interpretations. Some would liken it to orange or red, while others still would say it's closer to pink or peach. I'd say FP's version is definitely on the peach side, which I love because that is our other favorite color for little miss Aurelia.

It won't be long before Aurelia will be running around in these pretty little things, but until then they make a fabulous addition to her coral + peach nursery decor.

Okay- 

so by now you must be ready to find out how you can win a pair! 

Just follow the rules on the entry form below and you're entered to win. 

The more entry methods you complete, the better chance you have of winning...

a Rafflecopter giveaway


This contest begins Monday February 16th, 2015 and is open until midnight Sunday February 22nd. A winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter. The winner will be announced here and notified by email at the address associated with their Rafflecopter entries. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to the email to claim their prize or an alternate will be chose.

Interested in seeing your product featured here, see the PR + Disclosures tab and contact Breaking New Ground by email to be considered. Disclosure: I received no compensation for this review. All opinions are my own.This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook.  Click for additional disclosures and PR policies.

Questions, concerns, comments unrelated to the nature of this giveaway can be left on other generic posts or emailed to Breaking New Ground. 

SwimZip Giveaway!

If you haven't yet heard of SwimZip, head over to my feature + review post to learn a little more, and then come on back to enter this awesome giveaway!

Betsy at SwimZip is generously offering 1 reader of Breaking New Ground a $20 SwimZip gift card! 

This will be one of the quickest and easiest giveaways you've ever entered, so no excuses! Get clicking on the entry form below and I'll announce a winner next week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest begins Tuesday July 22nd and is open until midnight Monday July 28th. A winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter. The winner will be announced here and notified by email at the address associated with their Rafflecopter entries. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to the email to claim their prize or an alternate will be chose.

Interested in seeing your product featured here, see the PR + Disclosures tab and contact Breaking New Ground by email to be considered. Disclosure: I received no compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook.  Click for additional disclosures and PR policies.

Questions, concerns, comments unrelated to the nature of this giveaway can be left on other generic posts or emailed to Breaking New Ground. 

Swim Zip Feature + Review

If you caught the episode of Shark Tank that I mentioned a few months back when I reviewed Freshly Picked, you'll likely remember another company that was featured that night, SwimZip. They make amazing UV protectant swimwear for the whole family and the tops all feature a zipper.

In creator, Betsy Johnson's words-

SwimZip is the UPF 50+ clothing brand people trust to keep themselves and their children sun safe. We feature our signature full zipper down the front of our rash guard shirts- they are so easy to put on and take off! Our swimsuits, swimwear, bathing suits and accessories are made with the best materials to our unmatched standards. SwimZip styles are one-of-a-kind, and we include a number of innovative design features. 

Head over to their about page for more about Betsy and how she started up SwimZip. 

SwimZip's clothing has been featured in a number of places, including the Today show. Everyone has rave reviews and I'm right there with them! Not only are their designs adorable, but the swimwear is functional.

We took his adorable set that SwimZip sent for a test run out in our backyard recently. Malakai is the ULTIMATE test of any type of clothing when it comes to comfort. He is very picky about what he will wear. Normally I can't get him in any shirts with buttons, zippers or collars. I had myself psyched up to talk him into putting on a shirt with a zipper, but he put his SwimZip top on with no hesitations and played without once complaining. I was totally shocked!

Goodness sakes, doesn't he look cute (and way too grown up) in the Surfer Dude set that SwimZip sent over?

{he has been so camera shy lately!}

I've struggled in the past with getting rash guards on my kiddos. My boys have been blessed with rather large noggins, so pulling something tight fitting over their head was always a chore. It's even worse trying to get them off when wet! When Malakai was still a baby we even had to cut the back of one of his swim shirts so we could get his head through! Zippered rash guards are genius! Malakai was able to get the shirt on and off by himself the first try!

This is a 5T set and is generously sized, but fits well. Unless he has a massive growth spurt I could see him wearing this next summer as well. Kai was able to move freely and comfortably even after the suit was wet. It didn't stick to him or become heavy after getting saturated like other suits do.

As I mentioned, after getting thoroughly drenched he was able to get the entire outfit off himself, no trouble. I wish I could say the same for Desmond. He tried to get his top off alone at first (he's in the "I'll do it myself" stage) but he could barely peel it off his belly. Once I got his arms out, we got pretty tuck at the head. It was difficult because of the tight fit, but also because it was sticking to his wet skin. It took us longer to get Desmond's rash guard off than it did for Malakai to get completely undressed and into the tub! I even tried taking photos to document my struggle with Desmond, but it was impossible to do both.

I adore SwimZip for their ease of use and the peace of mind with the UV protection they provide. I also can't get over all the adorable choices they offer. I think the Hang Ten set is perfect for Desmond and I would love to get the Ruffle Me Pretty suit for little sister next summer!

And now for the exciting news that I'm sure some of you are hoping for... Breaking New Ground will be hosting a SwimZip giveaway! Be sure to check back here next week!

Freshly Picked Moccasins: a feature, review, + GIVEAWAY! {CLOSED}

I've loved all of the amazing shops and individuals I've been able to feature over the years but this is the most exciting one yet! Freshly Picked Moccasins is HUGE and getting bigger by the minute. I love their start up story (which I'll share below) and have enjoyed following their success for a while now. I'm just tickled to be able to review their moccasins for you and to give a pair away!

Bear & Fox Designs: feature, review, + GIVEAWAY

I met Rianna of Bear & Fox Designs through her sister-in-law, Aimee of our last feature Crowned with Beauty. I got to know her better on a girl's weekend last month and now I get to introduce you all to her and her craft talents...

Where are you located + are you from there originally? 

We are located in the little town of Rogue River Oregon.  My husband and I are both from Southern Oregon and would love to stay in the area.

How did you come up with your shop name? 

The store was created for my two little boys, Ezekiel and Elias.  Zeke has always been our careful and observant bear, and Eli is our feisty fox.  We wanted a name that could grow with our designs, and our family.

How long have you had your shop?

We officially opened in November of 2012.  It has been a crazy, and amazing journey this past year.  We have grown the store and had amazing support from friends and family. 

What inspires you? 

Our inspiration is based on our lifestyle currently.  Eco friendly and budget friendly.  We strive to make things from re-purposed or eco materials.  I love designing things for boys, because basically there is not much offered out there.  I truly enjoy dressing my little men, and allowing them to have trendy fashions.  I want to be the kind of mom who allows them to be whoever they want, and inspire them to try new things, including new styles.

What is your favorite item in your shop?

 I think the boys Suspender/ Bow tie sets are my favorite product right now.  There are so many different styles and patterns to choose from.  They are super versatile , and I have really enjoyed designing them.

Do you have any other jobs or hobbies?  

I am a stay at home mommy and love my job!  I love the outdoors and anything that reminds me of the outdoors. Camping has been a great activity for my family for the past few years.  I love going on long runs with the stroller, and taking the boys to the park.  I also enjoy finding nasty old things and turning them into treasures.

Share an interesting fact about yourself. 

I am a true hippie at heart.

I would love to live in a cabin off the grid if i could, and live off the land.  One day i hope to live in the woods, with some little chickens and a lavender field.  I have also secretly always 

wanted to have dreadlocks (its always been my little secret) :)

What do you hope your future holds?

I hope that our business grows and allows my husband to work fully on the business from home.  I am thankful everyday that Bear and Fox Designs has provided for my family, and i pray that it continues to grow.  It has been the biggest blessing for my family, for my sweet little boys. 

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Shandell's Review

Rianna sent a set of festive "Beau Ties" for my boys. I made her no promises that I would be able to get either to try them out, but I was pleasantly surprised. They were easy to get on and Desmond barely noticed his. Kai on the other hand is very picky about clothing, but he even tried one on for long enough to get a few photos. 

{dapper Des}

I loved that I could easily clip one to Malakai's T-shirt (pajama's no less) to snap a few funny photos of his forced smile and everlasting bed head. Somehow he still looked dressed up thanks to the red tie. Later he told me the green is his favorite, I'm holding on to hope that he might even wear it for Christmas, if just for a few more photos. 

Desmond and I had fun trying out a couple and taking photos. He didn't try to pull it off once. These little ties are just the right size for little guys. Something bigger or stiffer would likely poke and annoy. These didn't touch his face or neck at all, I didn't even have to button his shirt up all the way to put it on. A bow tie we have that went with an outfit we bought a while back fell off frequently, in these Desmond climbed and jumped and played as normal with no problems. 

Later Kai wanted in on the fun and I snapped this hilarious picture. The bow tie really makes each photo so much cuter. I am confident Desmond will be wearing these ties to our holiday gatherings this year. 

These are really well-made little accessories and I love the fun variety of fabrics that she offers them in, solids and patterns for every style. Such a simple and classic item. 

I'd highly recommend grabbing a set of these for the little boys in your life. They'd make a great Christmas gift! Order by Thursday, December 19th to ensure delivery by Christmas!  Currently $8 for one or buy the Christmas sets on sale for just $18!

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GIVEAWAY!

Now for everyone's favorite part, a chance to win an adorable set of Beau Ties from Bear and Fox Designs! 

Des is excited for you!

Rianna is offering one reader of Breaking New Ground a set of Christmas Beau Ties, and $18 value. 

(do forgive me for not posting this in time for Christmas, the holidays have kept me busy and I've had some technical difficulties to boot, but trust me, you'll want your little man to wear these all year long!)

See the Rafflecopter form below to enter (if it's not showing, refresh the page)

>>>PLEASE be sure that you read the entry requirements carefully and complete all tasks before entering or your entries will be deleted. If you do not complete the 1st required entry, all entries will be void<<<

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway begins on Tuesday December 17, 2013 will end by Friday December 20th, 2013 12:00am PT. Contest open to US residents only. 

A winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter, the winner will be announced by blog post here and notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to email or an alternate will be chosen.

Disclosure: I received a 3 pack of Beau Ties for the purpose of review, no other compensation was provided for this review. All opinions are my own.This is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.  Click for additional disclosures and PR policies.