Playing Monopoly With Kids

ABBEY: When I saw Monopoly board for the first time, I started to like it. The feeling of owning houses and hotels and lots of money at hand interests me. This is what I asked my father to buy me when he's abroad. And he gave me the British version. So Mayfair is my Boardwalk. But time passed and I have no one to play with as I knew that the game will take time and my siblings got no time for that. :)

I got an iPad and I bought the electronic version. Still nothing beats the physical ones.

We want to teach financial education to our nephews and niece and I know this can break the ice. For them it is only a game but I'm hoping that they will learn from this. We started the game 10pm and ended at 3AM as the tutorial is being counted in. They now knew how to make a deal, when to buy houses, what are the key spots and getting out of jail free with the roll of a dice. I even heard one of them saying "Tatalunin kita Tita Wil" which made me think that they are having goals now. Few more games and then we'll introduce Reobert Kiyosaki's Cashflow 101.

Hannah, Baste, Sam & Tito Abbey

WILL: Financial lesson must be learned firstly from home. I just want to pass-over all the lessons that parents thought me when I am still young. In my early age, all I have in my hand is either book, Barbie, or dice of this Monopoly / Millionaire Game. At an early age, they thought as how to save money in the bank (even, they do not trust banks, haha)! Our mind is open how to use “paluwagan” to benefit the members in good things. As early as 7, I am at our lumber business and learning to be a cashier and listening to tales for us not be fooled by my parents’ employees nor clients.

And I am so proud to my nephews and niece that they chose to have Monopoly Board Game than to have a rubber shoes. Haha! So we did bought it and asked them to take an extra good care of those.

When Abbey and I went home, they keep on bugging us to play with them. I witnessed for myself what are their traits in handling and solving issues about money.

My niece cried and threw a white flag when she realized that she have a small amount on hand. We explained to her that that is just a game, a practise. And the reality of life is a bitter or sweet and that will depend on the result of her choices. She then told us, she is ready again to fight us on the next round.

I observed that my Sam (the fat one) is really eager to defeat me and his Tito Abbey warned him “You will never defeat Tita Wilma in regards with money, Sam”. I smirk to my niece and look onto his eyes challenging him more.

Baste, the thin one, while he and his brother is bidding for a certain lot blurted out “$900.00!!!” Sam happily responded “Iyo na!” Sam knew her brother do not have enough cash and the pitiful Baste can’t do anything but to mortgage some of his properties with the bank. It does taught him to honor his words.

Consecutive days, we are all out of sleep. But I am happy playing/teaching them. 

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Toys"R"Us - VivoCity

1 Harbourfront Walk #02-182/3

Tokyo Tokyo at Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill, Taguig

ABBEY: I've been to Tokyo Tokyo many times. I think we also ate there with Papa Boy, Mama Vangie and Ninang Zeny in their branch at Trinoma. But this is the first time we'll blog about them. We visited the one in Venice Piazza McKinley Hill.

We had a large group and we went there lunchtime. We ordered their bento meal: pork tonkatsu with miso soup, read tea and coffee jelly. It costs Php204.00. We were told that the meals will be served after 20 minutes. But lo and behold even before the said time expires, we were already half on our lunch.

We would like to commend their staff for giving good service on April 28. Rice is unlimited. The pork tonkatsu is crispy on the outside and tender inside. One thing to improve though, please make the wasabi to have a kick. Honestly, I didn't even feel the spiciness.

WILL: Tokyo Tokyo is the most affordable Japanese Cuisine fast-food chain in Philippines. I can't shake the memories of eating there, eating there with my cousin, my sister and when I got married..with my husband and in-laws. What can I say? I am an avid fan of Tokyo Tokyo since their first branch at SM Carpark. :) 

A smile on my face when we got a chance to eat again in here. After our Ace Water Spa, we went to the Taguig for our lunch. And lo and behold, we went in for before all the employees swarmed into the place. Haha! 

I joyfully ordered the food but Miss, the one and only cashier that time is pretty grumpy, luckily the girls who provide the food equates the cashier's negativeness with the love in serving their diners. 

As usual, they are still in an "unlimited rice" promotion. Their tonkatsu is still yummy but I am quite disappointed with their wasabi. I almost chuck down the whole wasabi in my rice just to feel its presence in. Haha! 

We spend a lot of time in there! And after we fueled up. We paved our way to the Venice Grand Canal. As planned, not so many people in there because it is Thursday. We got all the place for photo ops.

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Tokyo Tokyo 

Second Floor, Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill, Taguig City

3 Cheese (Ricotta / Parmesan / Cheddar) Stuffed Chicken Recipe

2 boneless and skinless chicken breast 
Cup of ricotta cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
Grated cheddar cheese
Red Bell Pepper
2 medium size Onion
salt and pepper to taste

1. Cut the chicken horizontally and season it with salt and pepper, set aside. 

2. Saute the onion and bell pepper. Mix it with ricotta cheese, parmesan and cheddar.

3. Stuff the meat with desired amount of mixture. 

4. Turn on the heat of the previous pan, put two table spoon olive oil, then fry the chicken in a low heat (put on the a lid), approximately 10 minutes each side. 

VERDICT
ABBEY: We have another pack of ricotta which was to be used in our stuffed jumbo shells. So Wilma looked for another recipe with ricotta. It was stuffed chicked breast. The meat was cut in half but not all the way through but just to produce a pocket. And it was filled with cheese and bell pepper and then fried. It was delicious, aromatic, and creamy. Thanks Chef Wilma.