Action Baby Carrier Review & Giveaway!

Disclosure: I was sent this product free of charge to review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a Second Time Mom is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their giveaways. 

I love babywearing and I do it often with my 19 month old son. He's been worn in a number of different carriers since he was born. I was really excited to try out the Action Baby Carrier  because it's a bit different than other soft structured carriers and they also have carriers specifically made for toddlers and since Isaac is now 19 months old I was very interested in a toddler carrier! 

Action Baby Carriers were created by a woman named Angela Alexander. They started out similar to the Mai Tai style but then moved to the buckle style that they are today. They soon became a huge hit among parents and still are today!

Action Baby Carriers are made in the USA but are sold all over the world! The classic carriers can carry infant to 40 pounds and the toddler carriers can carry toddlers 15 to 45 pounds. The toddler carrier is also 3 inches taller than the classic carrier. Since Isaac is still only about 23 pounds and on the shorter side I decided to go with the classic Action Baby Carrier to review.

I received the Action Baby Carrier in the Robin's Egg print. I loved all the different prints they had to choose from but I found this one really cute! The Action Baby Carrier is very well made and durable. The carrier came with an article with instructions on how to wear your baby in the carrier and there are also instructions on their website. 

We just got back from vacation at the beach last week and I used that time to see how well the Action Baby Carrier worked out and about!I didn't want to take up even more trunk room with a big bulky stroller so I decided to wear Isaac when we were out exploring Panama City! Getting him on my back is still a bit difficult for me. The shoulder straps have to be buckled each time so sometimes I have a hard time reaching them to get them strapped but I had my husband help me while we were at the beach. Once I got him on my back it was very comfortable and supportive. He seemed very comfortable too and didn't have any red marks on his legs from the fabric. We walked all over the place with him on my back and he was perfectly content the whole time. One cool feature is the sleeping hood is already attached and just snaps up when in use and folds down when not being used. It's a lot more convenient than having to snap one on. I also like that Isaac seems really close to me in this carrier as well as a bit higher than some of the other soft structured carriers I've tried. 

Overall I really like the Action Baby Carrier. It's supportive and comfortable for both me and Isaac. I don't love having to buckle the shoulder straps each time but I think after some more practice I'll be able to do it without help. The Action Baby Carrier is a great option for mom's who want to wear their baby's close to them!

Buy It!

You can purchase the Action Baby Carrier, with FREE domestic shipping at http://www.actionbabycarriers.com/shop/!

Win It!

One lucky reader will win one available Action Baby Carrier of their choice!

Must be 18 years or older to enter. Only one entrant allowed per household. Giveaway is open Worldwide but if winner is international they must pay shipping fees. The winner will be chosen at random and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. 

Burt's Bees Baby is Target.com's Daily Deal This Friday, June 28th! Plus a Giveaway!

Burt's Bees Baby was carefully and thoughtfully crafted in the Burt's Bees name to deliver a line of products that nurture our children.  They have a full range of products including towels, wash cloths, robes, and clothing & accessories.  They strive to create products that are soft, natural and 100% organic.  

Being a parent is stressful, but Burt's Bees Baby wants to free you from the worry.  You can rest assured that your baby isn't being exposed to harmful chemicals or pesticides in their clothing or skin care items - you can just relax and enjoy this precious time with your little one.

I am excited to announce an exciting offer from BURT’S BEES BABY!

This Friday, June 28th, their Bedtime to Bathtime 9 Piece Gift Set 

will be available as a Target.com Daily Deal! 

The Bedtime to Bathtime 9 Piece Gift Set is available in blush or sail blue and is originally $59.95. 

On Friday, it will be available for $45 exclusively on www.Target.com with FREE shipping!

The set includes the following:

• 1 Ply Towel (blossom or sky)
• 2 Washcloths (blossom or sky)
• 2 Ply Solid Blanket (blossom or sky)
• Allover Bee Coverall (blush or sail blue)
• Allover Bee Knot Top Hat (blush or sail blue)
• Short-sleeved Bodysuit (blossom or sky)
• Baby Bee Mini Wash
• Baby Bee Mini Lotion 

The perfect gift for a new mom or for your baby, the Bedtime to Bathtime 9 Piece Gift Set 

is 100% organic and now even more affordable as a Target.com Daily Deal! 

Want a sneak peek of the upcoming deals at Target.com (including this one)?

Just check out the "New Deals Coming Soon” section at the bottom of the Daily Deals page!

To celebrate Burt's Bees Baby being featured as a Target.com Daily Deal, 

we're going to give away a few select pieces from this great gift set!

Connect: You can connect with Burt's Bees Baby on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.  Also, be sure to sign up for the Burt's Bees Baby newsletter on their website to learn about their latest promotions.  

Buy it: You can purchase Burt's Bees Baby products on their website or you can find them at Target.com and CVS.  

Win it: One lucky person is going to win lovely layette from Burt's Bees Baby in their choice of size and color (blossom or sky).

Special thanks to Ruth from Viva Veltoro for organizing this great giveaway!

Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for hosting this giveaway.
The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. 

Entry-Form

Firmoo.com Global Online Optical Store Eyeglasses Review and Giveaway! {Five Winners!}

Disclosure: I was sent these products free of charge in exchange for an honest, written review. I was not compensated in any other way. The reviews expressed in this review are my own. The Not-So-Secret Confessions is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their giveaway obligations. 

One thing I dread once a year is going to see the eye doctor. It's something that I know I can't avoid but it's definitely not something I don't get excited about. I think the biggest part that makes me  cringe is the price after I have an eye appointment, and pick out new lenses with my new prescription. So when I was given the opportunity to review not one, but two pairs of glasses from Firmoo.com, I cringed a lot less when I saw their fabulous prices! 

Firmoo.com is one of the most popular online glasses stores in the world! They offer a variety of glasses and sunglasses for men and women that are both stylish and affordable! All you need is a current eyeglasses prescription from your optometrist to place your order! They offer free shipping to orders in the US over $39 and in other countries, over $55! Plus every new customer gets their first pair of eyeglasses FREE! All you have to pay is shipping the first time you order a pair of glasses!

The ordering process for me was very easy on Firmoo.com! I looked through the choices of women's eyeglasses and checked out the ones I liked. Every pair of glasses has very detailed descriptions as well as very detailed pictures of the eyeglasses. Plus you can upload a picture of yourself to get an idea of what the eyeglasses will look like on you! That was a really neat feature to have and it helped a lot when I was choosing which glasses I wanted.  Once I decided on which glasses I wanted I put in my prescription information and placed my order! 

The glasses took only a few days to arrive! I was really excited to see them arrive so quickly! When I tried them on I could see perfectly! One pair is a little big and needs some adjustment but the other pair I absolutely love and wear all the time! The prescription is exactly right and they look super cute on me! 

Firmoo.com not only offers prescription eyeglasses but also sunglasses, including prescription sunglasses! They are all super stylish and can be customized to your specific prescription! So you'll be able to see great and look great too! 

Overall, my experience with Firmoo.com has been a great one! The glasses are of great quality and they work and look great! The ordering process was super easy and quick, and their prices are awesome! I plan on ordering my husband a new pair of glasses from Firmoo.com because I am so happy with my experience with them! 

Buy It!

www.firmoo.com

Win It!

Five lucky readers will win a $25 gift code to use at Firmoo.com for their own pair of glasses or sunglasses! 

Must be 18 years or older to enter. Only one entrant per household. Giveaway is open worldwide. The winner will be chosen at random and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. 

Baby Babu One-Size Pocket Diaper Giveaway!

Who doesn't love a fluffy giveaway?! The people at Baby Babu Cloth Diapers have generously given me the opportunity to give away one One-Size Pocket Diaper to one lucky winner!

Baby Babu has an awesome variety of cloth diapers and diaper accessories! They are at a very reasonable price and they offer FREE shipping on all orders! I did a review of a Baby Babu OS pocket diaper when Isaac was an infant! You can see that review HERE. 

Now let's get to the giveaway!!

Win It!

One lucky reader will win one Baby Babu OS pocket diaper in their choice of boy, girl, or gender neutral!

Must be 18+ to enter. Only one entrant per household allowed. Giveaway is open to US residents only. The winner will be chosen and emailed. The winner will then have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. 

It's Time To Get Crafty Giveaway Hop! #craftytime

Welcome to the It's Time to Get CraftyGiveaway Hop, hosted by the BloggingMamas Network. With the colder weather keeping us inside,it's the perfect time to get crafty! I’ve joined with over 40other bloggers to bring you great products to keep you or your kids busy thisseason.

This event will run from February 6-20 and eachblogger in the hop has a great prize, worth at least $25, to help you becreative or to admire someone else's handmade creations. Whileyou're hopping, be sure to check out the Grand Prize for this Event - a6 month subscription to Green Kid CraftsAND a $100 MichaelsGift Card!

Enter the Grand Prize

I am so excited for this event because here at The Not-So-Secret Confessions I am self sponsoring as a new work-at-home mom! In January I opened up my shop Two Brothers Blankets! I specialize in custom crocheted baby blankets, hats, apparel, and more! 

I've been enjoying crochet since I learned when I was pregnant with Isaac! I started getting requests for items I had been making, and decided to open up an etsy shop to share my work with others and help out financially while I stay at home with my boys! I absolutely love crocheting and it is such a joy to see others enjoying my work! 

For this giveaway hop I am super excited to give away to one lucky winner a Custom Infinity Scarf (up to two colors) and a Custom Beanie ( up to two colors)! That's a $30 value! 

The winner can choose any size beanie ranging from newborn to adult! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Only one entrant per household. Giveaway is open to US only. 

Coupon Code!!

Use code CRAFTYTIME13 now through February 20th and receive free shipping on any US order placed in my etsy shop! 

Now hop along to all the other blogs for your chance to win some more amazing crafty items!


Disclosure: According to Jenny, SoEasy Being Green, and the Time to Get Crafty participating bloggers are notresponsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Eco Sprout Natural Laundry Detergent Review #GreenResolutions Sponsor Spotlight!

In a few weeks during the Cloth Diaper Q & A series we will be talking about how to wash cloth diapers. If you don't already know, cloth diapers can't just be washed in any detergent. They need to be washed in detergent that is free of dyes, enzymes, and brighteners so that they will stay absorbent and last a long time. I was given the opportunity to review Eco Sprout's natural detergent which is not only cloth diaper safe, but natural and biodegradable! 

Eco Sprout detergent is an eco-friendly alternative to other laundry detergents. It's a great cloth diaper detergent and it's also great for regular household laundry! It's great for babies and even adults with sensitive skin! It doesn't have dyes, enzymes, or brighteners so it rinses clean. There are five awesome scents to choose from but it is designed for you to enjoy in your laundry room. It washes out of your laundry and leaves nothing but clean! 

I received the scent Green Tea and a sample scent of Fresh Linen to review. They both smell amazing!! On the packaging there are directions for first time users and for regular use of the detergent. Basically for the first time, Eco Sprout suggests you soak your diapers in hot water with 3-4 tablespoons of the detergent for 3-5 hours. This will get rid of any buildup from other products you might have. So that's what I did first thing. I soaked my diapers and then did two more hot washes without detergent. A few days later the diapers my son was in were stinky every time he peed in them! I was a bit confused. A blogger friend of mine who also uses Eco Sprout suggested I do an overnight soak because there just might be that much buildup in my diapers! I had no idea! I mean, my diapers never smelled before, but apparently there was quite a bit of buildup regardless. The overnight soak did the trick though! I no longer get smelly diapers and my diapers are come out clean every time! I think it's really neat that the scent washes right out of the diapers. That really goes to show that the diapers are super clean. 

I am really liking Eco Sprout laundry detergent. It works really well and it's gentle and safe to use on my baby's clothing and diapers! 

Eco Sprout is generously offering one lucky winner one 24oz. bag of laundry detergent in winner's choice of scent during the Green Resolutions giveaway hop starting January 16th!

Be sure to follow Eco Sprout on Facebook and Twitter to get a head start on the giveaway entries!

Dermagist Eye Precision System Review & Giveaway!

At my age (25)  I don't really have wrinkles yet, but I am a mother of two small children, so I do have puffy, tired eyes.  Even now that the boys are sleeping through the night again, I still  get the tired eye look. If I look at pictures of myself from before I became a mom and now, that is the first thing I notice. My eyes looks so tired and puffy. Plus I'm starting to get crow's feet! It's never too early to start protecting your skin against wrinkles so I've started using Dermagist's Eye Precision System!

 The Dermagist Eye Precision System consists of the Eye Revolution Gel and the Instant Effect Lifting Serum. The Eye Revolution Gel works to combat wrinkles around the eyes as well as dark eye circles and puffy eyes. It contains peptides which instantly attack the causes of dark circles and puffy eyes. The Instant Effect Lifting Serum instantly tightens wrinkles as well as works on them long term. Your skin will improve and tighten more and more with use. 

I've been using the Eye Precision System for about a month now, and I've noticed some nice improvements. As I said, my puffy, tired looking eyes were my big issue. I hated looking so tired all the time. So I mostly use the Eye Revolution Gel. I simply put it under my eyes every morning after I shower and have clean skin. It dries quickly and doesn't leave that filmy feeling on my skin like some gels do. I started noticing improvement pretty much right away. My eyes just looked more awake. I use the Instant Effect Lifting Serum for around the corners of my eyes and my forehead. I don't really have wrinkles yet, but I figure it will be a good preventative measure to go ahead and apply. 

If you have tired, puffy eyes like I did the Eye Precision System is for you! It works instantly and is light and gentle on the skin!And by buying the System instead of the two products separately you save $58.99! 

Not the greatest, but here's an instagram picture I took of myself back in November. See my tired eyes!

Here are some recent pictures of me after using the Eye Precision System for about a month! Even I didn't realize how well it really worked until I saw these before and after pictures! 

Buy It!

http://www.dermagist.com/shop/

Win It!

One lucky reader will win the Dermagist Eye Precision System! 

Giveaway is open to US residents only.Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Only one entrant per household allowed. 

Mama's Got A New Look Giveaway Hop! #mamasnewlook

Happy New Year! With a New Year comes the chance to develop a new YOU!  Welcome to the Mama's Got a New Look Giveaway Hop Event. Let's face it, us mama's don't always spend the time we need to on ourselves and our health because we are always taking care of everyone else.  The Blogging Mamas Network, along with over 30 other fabulous bloggers, want to give all of you special, deserving Mamas a chance at getting a New Look for the New Year!

This Event will run from January 3-17 and each blogger in the hop has a great prize, worth at least $25, to help you achieve that new look!  While you're hopping be sure to check out the TWO Grand Prizes for this Event - the Active New Look and the Fashionista New Look for Mamas!  Enter the Grand Prize HERE.

Here at The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a Second Time Mom you have the chance to win a Beauty Prize Package from Sarah O'Donnell- Avon Independent Representative worth $41.50!

I absolutely love Avon products! All of the makeup I use is Avon and a lot of the skin products I use as well! I even use some Avon hair products! They have everything from beauty, to skin products, to men's and children's products! They even have the cutest clothing, shoes, and handbags! Their items are greatly priced and you can order the products online for only a flat standard shipping rate of $3 or FREE shipping for orders over $30!

Included in the Beauty Prize Package is:

Ultra Color Rich Brilliance lip gloss in Bordeaux Glow {$8RV}

Super Drama Mascara in Waterproof Black {$9.50RV}

Glimmersticks Eyeliner in Blackest Night and Flashy Steal {$14RV}

Luxe Clutch Eyeshadow {$9.99RV}

That's five amazing beauty items worth $49.50 to give you a great new look for the New Year!

To enter simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below! You only have to do the mandatory entry to enter but the more entries you do the better your chances of winning are! Must be 18 years of age or older. One entrant per household allowed. Giveaway is open to US residents only. 

Time To Win It Thursday! {Family Friendly Giveaway Linky!}

<a href="http://www.mommyfergblog.com/"><img border="0" src=http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd368/mamaonagreenmission/ComputerWin.jpg" /></a>

Welcome to Time To Win It Thursday! 

Here you can link up all your Family Friendly giveaways and enter some as well! 

If you link up your giveaways, I would love it if you could share the button on your blog or share this week's linky by clicking on the social media buttons at the bottom of this post! This is not a requirement though. 

Here at The Not-So-Secret Confessions I have THREE current giveaways!

1. My Wonderful Walls $100 Gift Certificate, US/Can/PR, 1/10

2. Glow Bug Cloth Diaper, US/Can, 1/14

3. Avon Beauty Prize Package, US, 1/17

Now enter your family friendly giveaways in the linky below! Please list them as follows: Giveaway Item, Shipping Restrictions, End Date. 

I would love it if you would hit the share or tweet buttons at the bottom of this post and/or grab the button and post it to your blog, but it is not a requirement. Thanks!

This giveaway is open all week so feel free to come back and enter new giveaways also! 

Glow Bug Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway! {US & Canada}

Glow Bug Cloth Diapers are a company I just heard about recently. I think it was over the summer when I started to hear things about them. I heard nothing but good things about them and had to check them out! When I was given the opportunity to review a Glow Bug cloth diaper I was very excited to try out the diapers everyone was talking about! 

Glow Bug Cloth Diapers were started by two mommy friends who cloth diapered their babies, but were looking for a good quality diaper that was affordable as well. So they decided to start their own company that provided great quality diapers at a super affordable price! They want parents who are interested in cloth diapering not to be intimidated by the price and to be able to get great diapers for a great price! "Glow Bug" is the nickname of one of the mommy's daughters and she says babies in a cloth diaper look like "a cute little bug with a sweet round bum"! 

So how does it work? Well Glow Bug Cloth Diapers comes in sets of 12 diapers in stylish girl, boy, or gender neutral prints. Each pack comes with 18 snap-in microfiber inserts and are all packaged in a FREE wetbag! And you pay only $150 for all this! That's less that $13 a diaper!  This is perfect for a starter stash for those new to cloth diapering!

I received an adorable boy print called "Gear". It is so cute and very boyish! The diaper is a one-size pocket diaper, fitting approximately 7-35 pounds. There are two sets of snaps that crossover for little babies and four sets of snap-down snaps for size adjustability. The inside is made of a SlimDry fabric to keep baby feeling dry without the extra bulk of adding liners or inserts. There are also double leg gussets to keep mess inside! 

I get a really great fit with this diaper! Isaac is about 21lbs and 29 inches tall, give or take. I have it set on the second from the largest rise and I can snap it without any snaps extra snaps in between and it fits great that way! We've used this diaper for naps, for car rides, and for out and about! We've never had one leak in this diaper! I haven't tried it overnight yet, but I feel sure with an extra insert it would hold up great and there wouldn't be any leaks! 

This diaper is great! It works well, I get a great fit, and it's adorable! And the price is awesome! With Glow Bug Cloth Diapers you really are getting great quality diapers for a great price! 

Buy It!

http://glowbugclothdiapers.com/

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Glow Bug cloth diaper in their choice or boy, girl, or gender neutral print! (US/Can)

My Wonderful Walls Review & Giveaway!

Decorating your baby or child's room is always so much fun! Picking out colors, themes, and designs is the best part! I always have a ton of ideas floating around in my head for things like this, but I have nowhere near the artistic ability to do them! That's where My Wonderful Walls comes in! My Wonderful Walls is an online shop that specializes in wall stencils, wall stickers, canvas art, and wall murals! 

My Wonderful Walls was created by a husband and father. He wanted to make it possible for any parent, even the artistically challenged like myself, to make an unique and fun space for their child! My Wonderful Walls is a small business run by Michael and his family! They take pride in their personal customer service. 

When I was pregnant with Isaac we decided to do his bedroom an ocean theme. It's blue with some ocean/ship trinkets hanging on the wall. Nothing too fancy, but cute. When I was given the opportunity to review something from My Wonderful Walls I knew I wanted to get something to spruce up Isaac's room a little bit! So I chose the Pirate Theme Wall Stickers!

The Pirate Theme wall stickers comes with 27 fabric wall stickers that can be re-positioned  reused, and layered! The stickers are made from fabric that won't stretch or tear and there are no white edges so it looks like they were painted right onto the wall! When we received the package from My Wonderful Walls, I showed it to my husband and he wanted to start on it right away! 

It was so much fun decorating his room and now it really looks like the ocean with pirate ships and sea creatures and all in his room! We had a blast and even Isaac loves to go look at the awesome pictures on his wall! 

We also received a Personalized Pirate Sign Wall Sticker that I added Isaac's name to! 

My Wonderful Walls has something for everyone! There are so many themes to choose from and you can get wall stickers as well as wall stencils if you want to paint it yourself! Check out this Ocean Wall Mural stencil kit you could paint yourself!  They have themes for baby nursery's, toddler rooms, and big kid rooms! They even have items for other rooms in the house! My Wonderful Walls makes decorating so fun and so easy! 

Buy It!

http://www.mywonderfulwalls.com/

Discount Code!

Use the following discount code for 15% off any purchase at My Wonderful Walls now through January 12th, 2013: NCS1227

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a $100 Gift Certificate to My Wonderful Walls! 

Giveaway is open to US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Little Comfort OS Bamboo Fitted Cloth Diaper Review & Giveaway! {US only!}

I posted a few weeks ago about Little Comfort cloth diaper company partnering with Green Team Enterprises to become available in the US! Well they are now available here in the US and I am so excited to have been given the opportunity to review one of their cloth diapers, a Bambee One-size Bamboo Fitted! 

The Bambee One-Size fitted is a super soft fitted diaper that will fit from approximately birth until potty training. It is set up into two size brackets, size one and size two. Size one will fit up to 20 pounds and size two will fit 20 pounds and up. The diaper comes with two boosters, a short and a long one, that can also be snapped together for nighttime use or for heavy wetters. For size one, the booster does not snap in to the diaper and the rise snaps down for a smaller fit. For size two, the booster can snap in to the diaper. 

We've been using these diapers for about two weeks now and even though Isaac is about 20.6lbs we are still using the diaper on the size one setting. We get a much better fit on size one still. This diaper is so soft! Like soft as in you could use it as a pillow! And even after washes it stays just as soft as when it was new! They are fitteds so they do require a cover but Isaac, who is not a heavy wetter, has gone over an hour without a cover before the outside got wet. 

These diapers are made with bamboo so they are super absorbent! The double booster works great for heavy wetters and night so there are no leaks! The boosters are topped with micro-fleece so baby doesn't feel the wet as much! Even though I don't have a heavy wetter the absorbent bamboo and soft micro-fleece is so nice to have because I know I have that extra protection but Isaac will still feel dry and comfortable! We love this diaper for naps! I do put a waterproof cover on him for naps and we have no leaks or issues! 

The price of this diaper is pretty good compared to some other fitted diapers I have seen. It is currently $18.13 on the Little Comfort website. I really like the Little Comfort one-size bamboo fitted! It's absorbent, super soft and comfortable for baby, and super affordable! 

Buy It!

http://www.littlecomfortusa.com/

Win It!

One lucky reader will win a Little Comfort OS Bamboo Fitted Diaper! 

Holly Jolly Jubilee 2012 Giveaway Hop! #HJJubilee12

Welcome to the Holly Jolly Jubilee 2012 Giveaway Hop! This hop is hosted by Formula Mom and Fab Finds By Tiffany! The hop starts today and will go through November 30th! There are over 80 blogs participating in this hop so you have lots of chances to win! 

The grand prize for this hop is a Little Tikes Kitchen and a $25 Amazon Gift Card so be sure to visit the hosts to enter to win! 

Here at The Not-So-Secret Confessions of a Second Time Mom you have the chance to win a $20 Gift Code to Rockstar Wreaths and a $25 Gift Code to My Little Legs! That's $45 worth of awesome prizes! Both of these sites have amazing items that will make perfect gifts for someone you care about! 

All you have to do is enter on the Rafflecopter form below! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter! Only one person per household may enter or entries will be deleted! You can only do one entry or all of them! Good luck!