The Monsters are coming! They're almost here!! (Can you tell I am excited over here?!) I have always loved Mike and Sully, and have the first installment, Monsters, Inc., pretty much committed to memory. My kids have seen the film over and over and over again over the past several years, and I have to admit, this is one movie I never tire of.

Well, it's almost time for more monstrous fun! On June 21, 2013, Monsters University will be roaring onto screens everywhere! It just happens, this is just mere days before my birthday, so of course I will be requesting that my wonderful husband takes me out for dinner and a movie. Yes, I will be 32 and going to see an animated feature for my birthday. Don't judge, haha.

In the meantime, please enjoy these new features, and show the kids, too! I can't wait to see what my favorite scarers were like in their college days, can you?

“Like” MONSTERS UNIVERSITY on Facebook: http://facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity
"Follow" Disney/Pixar on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyPixar
Visit the website: http://www.Disney.com/MonstersU

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY releases in theaters on June 21st!

I have LOADS of winners to announce! I have notified all by e-mail, and winners will have 48 hours to claim their prizes. Thanks so much to everyone who entered, and check back often for more great giveaways!

Without further ado, here are my lucky winners! Congrats!

Summer Splash:
Amanda
Uncommon:
Michele M.
PinkBlush Maternity:
Carolyn
Mommy Time-Out:
Jodi K. (confirmed)
Chick Fil-A:
Amy
Young Scientists Club:
Polly
Novica:
Brandi P.
Flying Buttress:
Cassandra
Mother's Day Hop:
Amber
Gotz Dolls:
Mary G.
Pediped:
Gina B.

Like most women, I love jewelry. I don't own much, but the pieces I do own are highly personal and have deep, sentimental meaning to me. You see, I love pieces that are unique, symbolic, and speak to the heart, rather than anything that's just "blinged-out". I highly prefer jewelry that reflects my personality and personal style.

So if you see me on the streets of my hometown in Ohio, you're sure to notice that my jewelry is anything but common. Even my wedding rings are custom designed just for me, straight from the International Diamond Mines in Israel. Ordinary or common is something I simply don't do.

That's why when I discovered the beautiful, handmade jewelry at Baroni, I fell in love immediately. Not only are these pieces of jewelry lovingly designed by a skilled artisan, they are also created to speak to our inner-selves. Their pieces are unique, beautifully crafted, and inspired by both nature and the human spirit. This amazing company is also very environmentally friendly and helps many non-profit organizations. (And you all know I love companies with a heart!)

My toddlers, Sophie and Xander, love looking at books. We have reading time every day, since I want them to form a genuine love for reading from an early age. Reading is not only important for school readiness, it's also a portal into other worlds. Whether it's visiting a fairy land, slaying a dragon, or exploring ancient worlds and civilizations, kids discover a whole new world of knowledge and imagination through reading.

Of course, my babies are not experienced readers just yet, so reading time is more of a family affair for now. I do have to say that my 3 year old daughter can in fact read several words on her own. (Yay!) Still, at this time, my toddlers are far more visual when it comes to books, and they love bright, vibrant pictures and beautiful illustrations.

So of course, when I got the opportunity to review the amazing 3D books from Popar Toys, I was very excited. These are nothing like the traditional "pop-up" style books I remember having as a child. These books take 3D to a whole new level by pairing bright, colorful story books with modern day technology. As a matter of fact, the Popar Toys'  Princess And Her Pals 3D Book has earned the much coveted TNPC Spring 2013 Seal of Approval. (And trust me. These judges at The National Parenting Center are experts, educators, and parents. They see everything that hits the market, so this is quite an honor indeed!)

Now I don't know about you, but I love relaxing out on the deck with my husband after a long, stressful day with some music and a nice glass of wine. (Or three. Don't judge!)

My favorite wines are sweeter, fruity ones, like the gorgeous bottle of Italian Moscato you see to the left. I also love some of the sweeter red wines, and of course, there is champagne. Oooh. Moscato Spumante. I'd better put that on my shopping list! Anyway...Sorry about that. I got distracted thinking about some nice bubbly! I'm sure some of you can relate. While I like a sweeter wine, my husband prefers drier whites, like Pinot Grigio. I think they're okay, but a bit bitter for my tastes. What can I say...I am a typical girl, and I like fruity, girly drinks.

I also use wine for cooking a lot. Now I don't insult my food by using "cooking wines" that are high in sodium and seriously lacking in flavor. I use the good stuff. Trust me, it really does make a big difference. My Burgundy Beef Tips are amazing, and I get tons of compliments on that dish. My secret? Well, other than the fact that I add some fresh organic butter to it, the real key is the wine. Chicken Marsala? That's SO much better with a higher quality wine as well.

But how do you choose the best wines? Whether it's for drinking or cooking or both, this can be an incredibly daunting task. With over 150,000 new wine labels approved in the country in 2011 alone, it can be really hard choosing the best wine for your buck. I used to assume that the higher the price tag, the better the wine. Until I bought a $50 bottle of wine that smelled like dirt and tasted like sweaty socks. Lesson learned. Actually, some of the best wines I have ever tried cost less than $10 a bottle. Who knew?!

Recently, my favorite wine guy shared a brand new app with me that takes the pain out of finding that perfect bottle of wine. The Thumbs Up WineFinder App takes all of the guesswork out of shopping for the best wines, no matter what your budget is or what stores you shop at.

We’re proud to announce the arrival of Bet on Your Baby, Saturdays 8/7c on ABC, in partnership with Luvs!

Every parent thinks they know their baby well, but are they willing to bet on it? 

Bet on Your Baby is a new show where parents play fun games with their toddlers, and try to “bet” on what baby will do next! If they guess correctly, the family wins $5,000 in college tuition money, and the chance to play for $50,000!

All of these heartwarming and hilarious games are played in a toy-filled room called the Baby Dome. Do you think that you could predict what baby will do next? 

Now that summer is finally making an appearance, we're spending a LOT of time outdoors. We bought brand new patio furniture, a 3-person swing, a new grill, and even a huge wooden playground. Add to that our hammock and fire pit, and we've got tons of ways to enjoy the warmer weather.

One thing we have been noticing, especially in the evenings while we're cooking out, are mosquitoes. I don't know about you, but I hate these little buggers! Not only are they a nuisance, they carry scary diseases like West Nile. My Great-Aunt was infected with this a few years back, and it made her very, very ill. So we've been looking for visually appealing solutions that can combat our mosquito problem while remaining safe for our kids and pets.

Television personality John Gidding recently partnered with Terminix to provide a variety of easy, low-cost design tips that will add simple, elegant touches to any outdoor space and allow families to enjoy a virtually mosquito-free environment. “Simple, low-cost touches can really transform an outdoor space,” said Gidding.  “And once you design your perfect space, make sure you’re able to enjoy it by avoiding pesky mosquitoes with the Terminix ALLCLEAR line of misters and repellers.  These all-natural products not only protect your family from up to 95% of mosquitoes, but are also attractive and adapt to any design.”

Below are some of Gidding’s outdoor design tips.  A full assortment of how-to tips can be found at the Terminix website or YouTube channel. 

• Fire and Water – Bringing fire into backyard design is increasingly popular.  Build your own pit or purchase one for as low as $100 at a home improvement store.  On the flipside, fountains are a great way to add a water element and sound effects to an outdoor entertaining space.
• If It’s Shiny, It’s In…But So Is Rustic – Reflective surface objects are hot this summer, so look for mirrored surface bowls and vessels, glass vases or lanterns.  Galvanized materials like watering cans or planters are also really popular now.  Mixing non-traditional textures like this will really stand out.
• Think Beyond Terra Cotta – Mix and match a variety of pots with different textures and colors.  Summer is all about color, so don’t shy away from mixing bolder hues in with your patio palate.
• Grow Your Dinner – Consider a “pizza garden” with tomatoes, basil, bell peppers, oregano, onion and rosemary all growing in the same planter.  It will offer a great meal and a seasonal conversation piece.
• Mix and Match Plants – No matter what your climate, you’ll have choices of different types of plant sizes and textures.  Consider mixing annual, colorful favorites like Impatiens with a taller grass.  Or if you’re looking for late-summer color, plant some daisies, which will bloom long after the other plants have wilted.
• Stain Your Floors – Add a little spice to your patio by staining a boring concrete floor.  Acid staining can give a concrete patio a new lease on life.  Add an outdoor rug, and you have a quick, easy and inexpensive project that will transform your space.