Make It Count with Money Games at MortgageCalculator.org

Remember my nephew Morgan who loves music, Math, and Super Mario? Well, he's now five years old and is officially enrolled in preschool. He's been attending in-person classes  since the start of the year (one hour session, three times a week), and so far, he finds school fun and interesting. He's also made a lot of new friends, being the congenial little boy that he is.

Currently, he's on a week-long "health break" (sort of a semestral break, only shorter), like most preschool and grade school kids here in the Philippines. No homework or modules for now, but he's making productive use of his time by playing board games, singing karaoke, and swimming at the pool. When he's given screen time, he either plays Super Mario on his Nintendo Switch or goes through all the different video games at the Mortgage Calculator website.

My bubbly five-year old nephew, Morgan.

I chanced upon the Mortgage Calculator website while doing some research on real estate and home loans. As the name implies, the website has online calculators that can help you compute monthly home loan payments using different loan terms, loan amounts, and interest rates. They also have savings calculators, refinance calculators, and even home affordability calculators which can give you an estimate of how much you can afford to borrow for your new home. All these came in very handy for my research, but it was the money games that made me stay longer on this website - long enough for Morgan to see what I was doing on my computer and try the games for himself. 

Here are some of Morgan's favorite games on Mortgage Calculator.

Cash Back.

Select the number of bills and coins and give the change.

Cash Back is a basic arithmetic game where players use bills and coins to give the customers their correct change. It's a fun way to introduce money to kids, and teach them how to calculate using the different denominations. 

Supermarket Numbers.

Click the appropriate blocks to get the number on the upper left.

Another arithmetic game is Supermarket Numbers. The game starts with addition blocks, where you have to select two numbers to add up to the numerical goal shown on the top left. As the game advances, more blocks are added with functions like subtraction, multiplication, and division. 

Tap Supermarket.

Click on the customers at the counter and the empty shelves that need to be refilled.

On the other hand, Tap Supermarket is a grocery store simulation game where you oversee the store operations from manning the till, refilling the shelves, and managing the stocks. You earn money by checking out the customers in the payment counter, which you can then use to purchase new display racks and expand your store inventory. As the game progresses and you gain more experience, you can unlock the second checkout counter and a third grocery stocker.

Pizza Cafe.

Serve the customers immediately before the hearts run out.

Another simulation game is Pizza Cafe where you need to serve customers with the pizza that they ordered. There are different pizza variants which require different ingredients, and you need to assemble, cook, and send them to the conveyor belt until it reaches the customer. There is a time limit, so you need to make the pizza as quickly as possible before the customer walks out. You can also use the phone at the bottom right to order ingredients once they've ran out.

Hidden Food.

Click on the object as soon as you spot them.

Finally, there's Hidden Food, a simple search game where you have to find food items or kitchen appliances hidden among a cornucopia of fruits, vegetables, and other things related to food and cooking. The game starts easy, but as you advance to the different levels, it gets a tad more difficult as you need to find more items while the board becomes more densely packed. Surprisingly, Morgan managed to get to Level 10 with a bit of help from me. 

Enjoying some screen time on the iPad.

There are dozens upon dozens of fun games at the Mortgage Calculator website, and every single one of them is free to play. No sign-ups needed, no downloads required. Everything is browser-based so all you need to do is simply go to the website and click on the game that you would like to play. The site is ad-free, so you don't have to worry about annoying pop-ups or irrelevant ads showing up on screen. 

Yue will be having his "health break" next week, and from the looks of it, he'll be spending most of his break playing these money games as well. 

Get Your Game On with Plays.Org

We're now entering the third week of my son's school break, and as expected, he's spending most of his time playing video games. I really don't mind if he plays video games for hours, after all, he's now on vacation and he deserves this break after finishing seventh grade with flying colors. Besides, with the pandemic and all, and the strict quarantine guidelines here in the Philippines, kids can't go anywhere and are required to stay at home all the time. Playing video games is their way of coping with the pandemic, and connecting with friends (think Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox) whom they haven't seen face to face for a long while.

Aside from the usual games on Playstation, Yue also plays games on his smartphone and on his desktop. (Yes, video games everywhere, on all platforms, haha!) Just recently, he discovered plays.org - a treasure trove of fun and free browser-based online games. The site immediately caught his eye not only because of the graphics, but also because of the plethora of games to choose from.

Well someone's having fun on plays.org! (Excuse the faded keyboard letters, lol)

Plays.org currently has over 150 games in their catalog, with one or two new games being added everyday. You can see some of the more popular game titles on the site's homepage, and you can check out the different game categories when you scroll down towards the site's footer. The site has pretty much everything - from classic arcade games to simulation games, puzzles and pattern games, even logic and word search games that can help sharpen the brain and improve your memory. What's even great about this site is that you don't have to download or sign-up anything. You simply play the games on your browser. There are no annoying ads or pops-up, too, which can be very annoying and bothersome when you're in the middle of a game.

Archery Stickman.

Some of the games that Yue found really fun and interesting are Super Knight Adventure and the Archery Stickman Game. The latter, as the name implies, is a basic game with stickman figures. You simply need to shoot the other stickman with arrows before he shoots you.

Super Knight Adventure.

Meanwhile, Super Knight Adventure is a beat-em-up game where you battle against zombies and collect coins and gems while you're at it. The objective of the game is to defeat the zombie and obtain the key to the treasure chest. You move on to the next level once you open the treasure chest. Yue enjoyed this game so much that he was able to finish all ten levels in fifteen minutes (maybe less). 

I played some of the games myself, and the geek that I am naturally gravitated towards the word games and the puzzle games. I love the Waffle Word Finder Game because it is reminiscent of my all-time favorite word game Boggle. 

Waffle Word Finder.

Find the Hidden Pug, on the other hand, is a cute and simple game inspired by Where's Waldo, where you need to find the pug hidden in a sea of dogs. There's a time limit, of course, so you have to find the pug as fast as you can.

Find the Hidden Pug.

I had a lot of fun browsing through the collection of games, and my son seems to have made it a goal to try each and every one of them, haha! Yue's playing time can go on for hours, but as long as he's done with his household chores (he's now in charge of watering the plants and vacuuming the house), and he doesn't skip meals or lose sleep over video games, then I'm cool with it. Being cooped up at home for more than a year now can definitely take toll on our kids, and these video games can help them get through the isolation and madness of this COVID-19 pandemic. 

7 Best Playstation 4 Games for Kids.

For the longest time, I had been against my husband's idea of buying a gaming console for our son. 'I don't want gaming to affect his studies' and 'we don't need another addictive gadget at home' were my usual reasons for refusal. Yue didn't seem to mind that I wasn't buying his Dad's idea, until he discovered all these 'cool games' (as he puts it) through videos on YouTube. That includes Fortnite, the insanely popular action survival game played by his favorite YouTuber, DanTDM, and most of his friends at school.

Since then, he became hell-bent on having a console, even coaxing his grandmums (my Mum and my aunt) to buy him one - lol. My Mum, who has great negotiation skills, struck a bargain with Yue - if he maintains his 'high honor' status by the end of the school year, she'll buy him a console. Yue did just that and more - he even won first place in Reading Comprehension and got two bronze medals in his first national karate tournament. And with that, Yue finally got what he wanted and what he deserved - his very own Playstation 4.

All smiles! He finally got his reward from Grandma. :)

So what comes next after finally owning a game console? Choosing video games appropriate for my son's age. The games that came with the PS4 Hits Bundle are all rated M (Mature 17+), so it's imperative that I buy new games suitable for my 10-year-old. Although majority of the PS4 titles are geared towards adults, there's also a great deal of kid-friendly games playable on Sony's console. Here are some of them:

Minecraft.
Recommended for age 7+

Minecraft 
One of the most popular games to date, Minecraft is a virtual sandbox that gets your creative juices flowing. The gameplay in Minecraft is whatever the player wants it to be - a world trying to rebuild after a zombie apocalypse, or a kingdom inspired by your favorite bedtime story. Players customize their worlds and the creatures in it and how they choose to interact. There are infinite possibilities, and your only limitation is your imagination.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
Recommended for age 7+

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
This game brings back a lot of childhood memories - after all, Crash Bandicoot was one of the first few games that my sibs and I enjoyed playing on our Playstation 1. Now, our favorite marsupial is back with a remake of his first three adventures - Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot Warped. These classic games from the 90s have been 'modernized' with colorful graphics, streamlined animation, and updated gameplay, but you'll still be hit with a wave of nostalgia as you go through the tricky levels. More often than not, you'll be asking yourself, "How did I go through this when I was a kid?"

Lego Worlds.
Recommended for age 7+.

LEGO Worlds

Like Minecraft, LEGO Worlds allows players to build constructions in a 3D procedurally generated world. Players can create anything and everything one brick at a time, or use large-scale landscaping tools to create vast mountain ranges or tropical islands. It's like building Lego creations without the fear of stepping on actual Lego bricks.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
Recommended for age 10+.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes features an original story where players take control of Iron Man, Spider-Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Wolverine and many other Marvel characters as they unite to stop Loki and a myriad of other Marvel villains from assembling a super-weapon capable of destroying the world. With the entire Marvel universe contained in this Lego-fueled action adventure game, this game guarantees hours of fun for both kids and kids at heart.

Overcooked 2.
Recommended for age 7+.

Overcooked 2

If your kid has a knack for cooking, then Overcooked 2 is the perfect game for your chef-in-the-making. Like the original Gourmet Edition (aka Overcooked 1), this second course is a fun and family-friendly co-op game that requires you to serve as many dishes as you can under time pressure. With new ingredients added and new recipes to choose from, Overcooked 2 guarantees twice the fun and the challenge as the first installment.

Just Dance 2019.
Recommended for all ages.

Just Dance 2019

Work up a sweat and groove to the beat with the latest release of the 'ultimate party game'. Just Dance 2019 comes with 40 hot tracks - from chart-topping hits to family favorites, and even K-pop songs such as Blackpink's 'Ddu-du-ddu-du' and Big Bang's 'Bang Bang Bang'. Players get a more personalized gaming/dancing experience with the latest addition to the Just Dance franchise, as the game learns your dancing habits and suggests songs that you might like. You don't even have to buy a PS Move to play this game - all you need is your smartphone and the Just Dance Controller app and you're good to go!

Hasbro Family Fun Pack.
Recommended for all ages.

Hasbro Family Fun Pack

Family time, fun, laughter, and learning are some of the reasons why board games are important. With the Hasbro Family Fun Pack, classic board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly become more exciting with the 3D experience, and more interactive with new game modes and online PVP options. It's a great way to fire up your competitive streak, get your neurons working, and bond with your family.

You might be wondering why I didn't include Fortnite in this list. In case you're not familiar with it, Fortnite is an online third-person shooter game in which 100 players parachute onto an island, and the last player alive wins. You need to kill the other players to survive, though there isn't much blood and gore in the animation, and the violence is 'cartoon-like'. The game is actually recommended for ages 13 and up so technically, it's not age-appropriate for my son. I only let him play it under my supervision, just to be sure that he doesn't come across weird strangers online.

Fortnite: Endgame, available for a limited time only.

Do your kids play Fortnite, too? What video games do you and your kids play?

Sneak Peek | Tony Moly ❤ Pokemon Collection.

So it seems like everyone's crazy about Pokemons these days, thanks to Pokemon Go, a location-based augmented reality mobile game. Released in July 2016, the game quickly became a global phenomenon, and was heralded as one of the most used mobile apps this year. I am hooked to the game myself, along with my siblings, my cousins, and even some of my (mommy) friends at Yue's school.

Now the latest to join this Pokemon craze is Korean cosmetics brand Tony Moly, with the launch of their limited edition Tony Moly x Pokemon collection! Collaboration collections are nothing new in the Korean cosmetics industry, but I'm quite sure this particular line will be such a hit not only with Korean cosmetics lover but also with Pokemon fans across the globe.

Pokemon ❤ Tony Moly!

Catch them all after the jump!

Cardfight Vanguard Clans.

There are lots of games available on the internet nowadays. All of them have different features and game mechanics but most of them claim to create entertainment and promote the value of game experience. Some games have a high standard difficulty level wherein you have to struggle in the initial level to move on to the next. Also, there are games that are composed of clans. The battle is between clans, each composed by a number of players. Cardfight Vanguard is one of the best clan battle game in the market today.

You will have the chance to fight with your favorite clans using your vanguard cards. Use the card to overcome the fight in the clan. Through your chosen vanguard cards, you can now have a wonderful and exciting virtual gaming experience. Have the best deck and compete in the clan. Cardfight Vanguard can be played on sites. This game is played on generic virtual tabletop, through simulations wherein the player of the game moves the images of cards on the surface.

Cardfight Vanguard.

There are many types of vanguard cards to choose from. You can visit the sites' deck section to choose a deck that you like. Just click on the “play online” link to access the game room. Once there, you can now play Cardfight Vanguard Clans. You may also opt to build your own deck with cards of your choice.

There are many powerful vanguard cards offered. The choice to add them to your deck is entirely yours. Vanguard cards have different levels of power, so the price varies, depending on the power that your card has. Here are some of the Cardfight Vanguard Clans that you can find in the game:

- United Sanctuary: royal paladin, oracle think tank, shadow paladin, gold paladin.
- Dragon Empire: kagero, tachikaze, mirakumo, narukami.
- Zoo: megacolony, neo nectar.
- Dark Zone: dark irregulars, spike brothers, palemoon.
- Megallanica: granblue, Bermuda triangle aqua force.
- Star Gate: nova grappler, dimension police.

You can maximize the level of your online game experience when you go to battle with the vanguard clan that you choose. Use their power and special ability to make the fight even more exciting. Choose your vanguard wisely for the best gaming experience.

The Highest Crowdfunding Projects in History.

Crowdfunding serves as a new way for individuals to make investments in companies. Instead of spending weeks or months researching projects and companies, investors can simply log on and find all the information they need. Though Kickstarter still ranks as the most popular crowdfunding website, other platforms like Indiegogo and Go Fund Me popped up in recent years.

Crowdfunding works!

Many of the companies that use these sites reward investors with free products and other goods in exchange for making an investment. Experts in investing like Pete Briger might want to take a look at some of the highest crowdfunding projects in history and how much those projects raised.

Star Citizen
Chris Roberts had a long history of success thanks to his hit video game Wing Commander. Despite that success, Roberts struggled when it came to finding new investors and companies willing to take a risk on a new video game. When the top companies turned him down or demanded that he turn over control of his game, Roberts began taking donations on his website. He later turned to Kickstarter and gained support from more than 800,000 people. Though he initially asked for $500,000, he eventually raised more than $80 million for his game.

Pebble Watch.

Pebble Time
Smartwatches existed for a number of years before Apple joined the field, and one of the top smartwatches is the Pebble Watch. When the company decided to design and introduce a new watch, it turned to Kickstarter for help. The company originally asked for $500,000, which would go towards the development of the new software used by the watch, but it actually raised more than $20 million. Many of the donations came from fans of the previous watch who wanted advanced notice of when the new design dropped.

Coolest Cooler.

Coolest Cooler
Ryan Grepper had an idea for a new best cooler for money but had problems finding anyone willing to take a chance on him. Though he approached investors and companies that manufactured coolers, he found no one interested in his concept. The Coolest Cooler is a cooler with a capacity of 60 quarts that contains a speaker that works with any Bluetooth device, a blender and a USB charger. The cooler also features a rechargeable battery that provides hours of power to those devices, and it also has storage space for plates and utensils. Grepper raised more than $13 million, which he plans to use to develop and implement his cooler design.

Crowdfunding sites helped developers and designers raise millions of dollars to fund their projects. Those interested in donating can give a few dollars or thousands of dollars to their favorite projects. Coolest Cooler, Pebble Time, and Star Citizen show that people are more than willing to support independent developers.

Wordless Wednesday #123 | Bruce vs. Brandon.

Join | Choose Your U Event!

Choice Your U Event

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Big thank you to our supporting co-hosts: Just Davey and Me, Giveaway Bandit, 

A Medic's World, Raking In The Savings, Mommy Bear Media, Capri's Coupons, 

Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews and CountingtoTen

~ Introducing the Wii U ~

Wii U is the next great gaming console from Nintendo and it redefines how you will play next. With its innovative new Wii U GamePad controller, it will not only introduce entirely new ways to play games, it will also transform how you connect with friends and enjoy entertainment.

Play Games

• Discover new ways to play together with the innovative Wii U GamePad controller
• Enjoy brand new games from your favorite gaming franchises
• Experience up to full 1080p HD for the first-time ever on a Nintendo gaming console
• Play almost all of your favorite Wii games & accessories on the Wii U console

Connect & Share

• Interact with friends, family, and people around the world via Miiverse*
• Download add-on content, full games, classic games, and applications from the Nintendo eShop*
• Communicate in real time with the video chat feature*
• Make and share Mii? characters* *Broadband Internet access required for online features. For more info, go to support.nintendo.com

Transform Entertainment

• Search your TV, cable, video-on-demand and DVR content from one convenient place
• Control your TV with the Wii U GamePad as a remote control
• Browse the Internet on the Wii U GamePad and share your activity on the TV screen
• Find, watch, and enhance your video entertainment

Wii U GamePad Controller

• Connects Wirelessly with both the console and the TV
• Built-in touch screen
• Motion Control
• Buttons and control sticks built right in

One lucky reader will receive a Wii U Console 

with Wii U GamePad Controller!

Giveaway ends December 30th at 11:59pm, 

open worldwide {residents outside of the US will receive a $300 Amazon Gift Card}, ages 18+. 

To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. 

Good luck!

Join | Choose Your U Giveaway!

Game freaks and gaming addicts represent! Here's another giveaway made especially for you! :)

Hosted by Mom Powered Media

Big thank you to our supporting co-hosts: A Medic's World, Raking In The Savings, Mommy Bear Media, Capri's Coupons, Monica's Rants, Raves & Reviews and CountingtoTen

~ Introducing the Wii U ~

Wii U is the next great gaming console from Nintendo and it redefines how you will play next. With its innovative new Wii U GamePad controller, it will not only introduce entirely new ways to play games, it will also transform how you connect with friends and enjoy entertainment.

Play Games

• Discover new ways to play together with the innovative Wii U GamePad controller
• Enjoy brand new games from your favorite gaming franchises
• Experience up to full 1080p HD for the first-time ever on a Nintendo gaming console
• Play almost all of your favorite Wii games & accessories on the Wii U console

Connect & Share

• Interact with friends, family, and people around the world via Miiverse*
• Download add-on content, full games, classic games, and applications from the Nintendo eShop*
• Communicate in real time with the video chat feature*
• Make and share Mii? characters* *Broadband Internet access required for online features. For more info, go to support.nintendo.com

Transform Entertainment

• Search your TV, cable, video-on-demand and DVR content from one convenient place
• Control your TV with the Wii U GamePad as a remote control
• Browse the Internet on the Wii U GamePad and share your activity on the TV screen
• Find, watch, and enhance your video entertainment

Wii U GamePad Controller

• Connects Wirelessly with both the console and the TV
• Built-in touch screen
• Motion Control
• Buttons and control sticks built right in

One lucky reader will receive 

a Wii U Console with Wii U GamePad Controller!

Giveaway ends November 30th at 11:59pm, 

open to Continental US residents, ages 18+. 

To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. 

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. The Rebel Sweetheart is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Join | The Great XBox Giveaway!

Are you ready for another huge giveaway? I know I am! 

Everyone, make way for the Great XBox Giveaway!

Hosted by Mom Blog Society and co-hosted by Colleens Book Nook, `Addicted2Malik Route 249, and Mom Does Reviews, this giveaway will run from September 4th 12:01 am EST until September 18th 12:01 am EST. Open worldwide! Winners outside the US will receive a cash prize equal to the giveaway in place of the Xbox and 3 games.

The XBox 360 console

• Xbox 360 has blockbuster games, HD movies and controller-free fun for everyone
• Built-in Wi-Fi for easy connection to Xbox LIVE
• Super quiet with sleek new design plus matching controller
• Ready for the controller-free fun of Kinect

           

Batman the Videogame

Take control of the Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin, as you build, drive, swing, and fight your way through Gotham City capturing escaped villains and putting them back in Arkham Asylum where they belong. Battle against legendary villains including The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman and more to keep the streets of Gotham clean. Then, for the first time, jump into the story from the other side and play as Batman's foes. Enjoy the power you wield as you spread chaos throughout the city.       

  

LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4

Lego Harry Potter brings the action, adventure and fun of the first 4 stories in the Harry Potter catalog to the video game screen in the way only the LEGO franchise can. Featuring all your favorite characters and story environments, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 lets players play as the wizard of their choice, combining them piece by piece as is only possible in the LEGO franchise of games. Play options include single player
story mode, free-play and two-player co-op online and offline.          

    

Shrek Forever After

Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and Puss In Boots are back in Shrek Forever After, the final chapter in the Shrek story. Shrek longs for the days when he was a "real ogre" and not the family man he is today. Making a deal with the slick-talking Rumplestiltskin, Shrek is transported to an alternate world where ogres are hunted, Rumplestiltskin is King and Shrek and Fiona have never met. Fight to save your friends, the land of Far, Far Away from the mischievous miscreant, Rumplestiltskin and reclaim your one true love.

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter below!

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