A Better World: The Facebook Game That Rewards Good

A little over a year ago, I openly admitted that I was the last person on earth to create a Facebook account. I had held out as long as I could but was finally forced to in order to apply for... something or other. Which I clearly must not have been selected for. So what was the point of Facebook again?

All I could tell at the time was that it was a way to find old friends (or people that I wasn't particularly friends with in the first place) and possibly keep in touch with them. In theory, at least.

Considering it took me a while to even find the time to figure out how to leave a comment on someone's wall, the invitations that I seemed to somehow be receiving to do some farming (what?) or join a mafia (even bigger what?) were not even registering on my list of things to do.

As a wife, mom, and blogger, my time is already spread pretty thin, so a game has to be a really great game in order for me to want to find out more about it, let alone play.

However, when I was introduced to A Better World and heard things players about being rewarded for good deeds and its promotion of acts of kindness and expressions of gratitude, well, in this case I actually wanted to hear more!

Created by ToonUps, a digital entertainment company that has focused on developing digital content that encourages a positive outlook and altruistic behavior, A Better World is the first of hopefully many more games in the future of the "do good" genre.

Using research showing that being encouraged to think about things that we are thankful for and doing activities that provide encouragement to others improves our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, A Better World gives players the ability to express gratitude and support to their friends... as opposed to requesting that they water crops. In short, it's a game that can make you feel good about playing it!

Getting started with A Better World is easy and there are more than 15 locations throughout the game to explore and try out:

• Department of Do Good: a place you can share real world good deeds you’ve performed and see what other members of the community have done.

• Gratitude Grotto: a charming area where you can reveal what you are thankful for and express your support for messages left by others.

• Sanctuary of Hope: a building where you can communicate your hopes and dreams and send encouragement to other players.

• Arcade: a play area with uplifting mini-games to enjoy alone or with friends.

• Better Pets Pet Shop (a new feature): filled with adorable puppies, cute kittens or even a magical unicorn

Each area of the game is fun and gratifying in its own way and has the ability to leave you feeling good. Whether you go on to report that you've done something good, reveal what you are feeling thankful for or to support others, you'll find yourself feeling inspired, in a more uplifted mood about about yourself, and in general part of a positive community.

Even though both of my children are too young to play games online, knowing that ones like A Better World are out there makes me glad. It isn't violent, it isn't offensive, it isn't sending negative messages... in fact, it's just the opposite. Who wouldn't be happy to know that their children are playing a game that can help make a difference virtually and out in the real world?

With more than 125,000 players already, isn't it time that you spent your free time on something good rather than just wasting it? Find A Better World on Facebook and get started making a difference today!

I was given the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions on A Better World. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The side-splitting hilarity of June Cleaver Nirvana {$100 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, Sarah!}

This might sound odd, but way back when I first heard about blogs... I didn't really get the point.

You keep an online diary of your life and then people are supposed to what? Come read it? They're going to want to hear about someone else's... thoughts on life? Issues with their family? Their kid's struggles/achievements?

Well, surrrrre. That sounds utterly thrilling.

Fast-forward all these years and not only am I a member of the blogging world, but I'm a card-carrying, fully addicted, obsessively-checking-for-new-posts-from-my-favorites blog reader. Some are similar to my own, some I stumbled across and found that I could relate and some, well... some are just special.

Those are the select few that aren't just written, they're authored. The women behind them can publish a post on something deep and thought-provoking about life or their children or something completely random about what they served for breakfast but, nonetheless, they have a way with words. They're eloquent, they're articulate, they're expressive and, my most favorite quality of all, they're usually downright hilarious.

But you don't have to take my word for it. The perfect example of an amazing blog that can make you laugh out loud and make you think and possibly make you shake your head in wonder as to where she came up with these things is none other than June Cleaver Nirvana.

To those review bloggers that are a part of Business2Blogger, you have already experienced not only Holly Homer's brilliance (in coming up with such a great idea in helping companies to find bloggers), but her humor as well. But just seeing a snippet of her writing there is nothing compared to what you're going to find on June Cleaver Nirvana.

Dubbing herself as a Dallas Mommy Blogger, Holly (also known as Texasholly) is a multi-talented, hardworking mom to three boys who has found a way to do something that only the best bloggers know how to do: give her writing a voice.

It doesn't matter if she's showing beautiful photographs while writing posts about the various crazy things that her kids say and do or she is using hand-drawn illustrations to animate her life, part of the appeal is just never knowing what you're going to get next.

Both of those categories, by the way, are hilarious. Part of me loves seeing Holly's personality come through in writing on things such as why she needs to begin to plan an arranged marriage for her 4-year-old and part of me just wants to laugh a little harder at the illustrations in more posts like why she's known as Holly, Fierce Beaver Trapper.

Photo © June Cleaver Nirvana. How can you not want to go see the rest of this animated story?

Another aspect of a great blog that you'll definitely find here: even after you think that you've sufficiently read the huge variety of topics that June Cleaver Nirvana covers, Holly pulls out something new.

One day you'll be doubled over laughing. The next day, it might be something sweet and poignant. Then a recipe for something tasty. The next day? Side-splitting laughter (yes, totally different than the kind that makes you double over). And then yet the day after that?

Photo © June Cleaver Nirvana

Holly has taken ogling at insane As Seen On TV infomercials to a new level... and buys them. And the resulting blog posts are nothing short of amazingly funny. If you've ever wondered who buys Pajama Jeans or Booty Pop or Skechers Shape-Ups or just how hilarious the thought process that goes into making that purchase might be, well, look no further.

I, for one, cannot wait to see what Holly buys next.

As an avid blog-reader, I like a site that has personality, interaction, can make me think, brings a smile... and just might cause me to choke and splutter on my glass of water because I'm laughing so hard. June Cleaver Nirvana does all that and more and I can feel the instant excitement when I see a new post pop up because that just means it's going to be a good day.

I'm never sure what Holly is going to come up with next, but I know I'm guaranteed to not be bored... and if that isn't a sign of a great blog, then I don't know what is.

If you've already experienced June Cleaver Nirvana, go check it out again to make sure you haven't missed anything. And if you haven't? What are you waiting for? Go! Just be sure you have some free time today, because I guarantee you'll find yourself knee-deep in the archives.

And loving every minute of it.

If I haven't convinced you of Holly's immense awesomeness already, this might just help seal the deal. See, I'm pretty sure you'll want to read June Cleaver Nirvana, follow Holly on Twitter and become her fan on Facebook anyway, but, just in case you needed one more incentive...

One lucky person will win a $100 Amazon gift card from
Holly and June Cleaver Nirvana!

To enter to win: Like June Cleaver Nirvana on Facebook and leave me a portion of your username or a link to your account for verification.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you update your Facebook status to the following message: Have you read June Cleaver Nirvana? If not, you're missing out! Head over and Like this hilarious blog now - it could win you a $100 Amazon gift card! http://bit.ly/grwHqe
1 Extra Entry if you tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a $100 Amazon gift card from @Texasholly & the hilarious June Cleaver Nirvana! http://bit.ly/grwHqe #thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

Giveaway will end on February 11th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open worldwide! If you're reading this, you can enter!

A big thank you to Holly at June Cleaver Nirvana for providing a $100 Amazon gift card for one lucky giveaway winner. I was compensated for writing this post but that doesn't change the fact that June Cleaver Nirvana rocks, it just means I was able to write about the awesomeness. The opinions shared are my own and honest if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Meet the Divas on Facebook {$20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway}

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

Two months ago I was part of a great Amazon gift card giveaway introducing you to the Double Duty Divas and their incredible network of top review and mom blogs.

How Cecelia and Bridgette manage to not only work while maintaining their successful blogs and be moms is beyond me. But then they run review campaigns and multi-blog advertising programs for businesses while managing hundreds of bloggers... well, that makes me tired just thinking about it.

To top it all off, they are now hosting the first ever review conference catering specifically to review bloggers and the challenges that we face: Reviewer's Retreat. If you review products and/or resources on your blog, you aren't going to want to miss this great opportunity to connect with your peers and discuss topics that affect us all!

As a member of the Double Duty Divas, I have not only enjoyed being a part of the great campaigns but by the wonderful support shown by all of the DDDivas. They truly work to build connections between all of the participating blogs and through cross-promotional events such as this one, we get to encourage one another... and you get to win something fun in the process.

So what is the focus of this Double Duty Divas campaign? Meeting us on Facebook! There are a lot of great Divas participating in this campaign but I am fortunate to get to introduce you to the following ladies that I am sure you will be happy to Like. Check them out!

Experimental Mommy
Hot Mom Tips
icefairiy's Treasure Chest
My Four Monkeys
Real Moms Real Views
Review Retreat
Stuff Parents Need
The B Keeps Us Honest
The Mommy Diaries

Reviewer's Retreat (keep up-to-date on this great conference!)

So what do all of these Divas mean for you? Well, thanks to the generosity of the Double Duty Divas...

One lucky person will win a $20 Amazon gift certificate* for meeting the Divas on Facebook!

*As this is a cross-promotional giveaway, only one winner will be chosen from all of the participating blogs. However, you are free to visit any or all of the other blogs hosting this giveaway and enter there as well to increase your chances of winning!

To enter to win: Like Thanks, Mail Carrier on Facebook and leave me at least part of your username.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per Diva) - Like any or all of the Divas listed above and come back and leave a comment for each one (that's 10 entries)!
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

WIN a $20 Amazon Gift Card by meeting the Double Duty Divas! Open worldwide! http://bit.ly/cePJjP #thxmailcarrier #giveaway #DDDivas #win

Giveaway will end on November 5th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open worldwide! If you're reading this, you can enter!

A big thank you to the Double Duty Divas for providing a $20 Amazon gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner, I was not provided anything for hosting this giveaway. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

So, there's this thing called Facebook. Maybe you've heard of it?

I wouldn't say that I'm a trendsetter, but I wouldn't say that I'm too out of touch with what's going on in the world, either. I mean, I know how to work my DVR, what has happened recently with Bret Michaels, how to waste time on Twitter and I can even tell you who just won American Idol.

But where have I been lacking? It's time for me to admit it. If you were wondering if there was a person left on earth who wasn't on Facebook, it was me. My own mother even joined and that wasn't enough to convince me. I figured until hours 25 and 26 were added to each day, it just wasn't going to happen. However, push came to shove and even though I held out as long as I could, the time came and now Thanks, Mail Carrier has a fan page.

I'm still completely clueless about it all and wouldn't have even gotten it set up had it not been for the absolute fabulousness of the wonderful and amazing Nicole, aka The Wannabe WAHM and Chic & Cheap Nursery. Considering I couldn't even figure out how to upload a picture, she completely came to my rescue and pulled the page together and hopefully she knows that I will be forever grateful (actually, this is just one on the list of many things that I am forever grateful to Nicole for. She's really just that awesome).

Up next? You! I need your instructions, tips, advice and all the knowledge that you can pass on... because right now I can barely leave a comment on my own wall. Tell me, experts, what do I need to know? And please don't leave me there looking so lonely! Thanks, Mail Carrier needs some Likes and since that is already extra entries into my giveaways, you might as well, right?

Next, who is going to come over and show me how to send a text on my cell phone? Because apparently that's something that you all know how to do as well? At the rate I'm going, my 3-year-old is going to be much more hip than I am in a few years.