“Pete’s Dragon,” a reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film centered on an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot -- who just so happens to be a dragon -- comes home on Nov. 29 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand. And the timing couldn’t be better: Today’s announcement ushers in tomorrow’s World Dragon Day and the heartwarming adventure arrives just in time to entertain the entire family this holiday season. 

Families will be captivated by this magical movie followed by never-before-seen bonus features, including a revealing look at director David Lowery’s personal diary kept during the filming of “Pete’s Dragon,” the design process behind the lovable dragon Elliot, deleted scenes, a tour of the film’s breathtaking production location of New Zealand, audio commentary by filmmakers and actors and hilarious bloopers.

"Pete's Dragon" stars Bryce Dallas Howard ("Jurassic World") as Grace, a forest ranger in the Pacific Northwest who happens upon 10-year-old Pete, played by Oakes Fegley ("This is Where I Leave You"). Oona Laurence ("Southpaw") is Natalie, the 11-year-old daughter of Jack, a lumber-mill owner played by Wes Bentley ("The Hunger Games"). Karl Urban ("Star Trek") is Jack’s bumbling brother Gavin and Oscar®-winner Robert Redford ("Captain America: The Winter Soldier") portrays Mr. Meacham, an old wood carver who delights the local children with tales of a fierce dragon.

The film is directed by David Lowery ("Ain't Them Bodies Saints") from a screenplay by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker, p.g.a. ("The Finest Hours”), with Barrie M. Osborne ("The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring") serving as executive producer.

Writer/director Lowery reveals, “I look back on childhood as an adventure, and I wanted to capture that on screen in the smallest—but also the biggest—way.” The big—the creation of an irresistible 24-foot tall, green, furry dragon that can breathe fire and turn invisible—is brilliantly tackled by the team at the Academy Award®-winning visual effects company Weta Digital (“The Hobbit” films and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy). But it’s the small moments between characters that so beautifully convey the film’s powerful message: the importance of friendship, family and finding one’s place in the world.

Recently, the world celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl, beloved children’s author of family favorites like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” “Matilda” and Dahl’s personal favorite, “TheBFG,” as well as World Dream Day, an annual event honoring “the dreamer, visionary and innovator in all of us.” It seems a fitting time to announce the in-home release of “The BFG,” Disney’s fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, on Nov. 29 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand.

As dreamers around the globe gear up for Sunday’s World Dream Day, an annual holiday honoring “the dreamer, visionary and innovator in all of us,” it seems a fitting time to announce the in-home release of “The BFG,” Disney’s fantasy adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and featuring a dream-collecting Big Friendly Giant. This heartwarming tale for the whole family arrives home for the holidays on Nov. 29 on Digital HD, Blu-ray™, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD and On-Demand.

 Winter is coming... or should I say it's already here? 
 
But there's really no reason to be afraid of the shorter days and colder nights. Fresh snowfall, wind-chilled cheeks, and abundant layers of clothing are a natural part of winter. With at least six months of winter per year, the countries of the North embrace the cold months with enthusiasm—and they could teach us a thing or two about surviving winter. 
 
I recently partnered with Kungs, a Finnish producer of premium snow brushes and ice scrapers that are tested in the harshest Arctic conditions— to bring you some fun expert tips from one of the coldest countries on Earth: Finland.

Some may not know this about me, but in addition to being a blogger, a wife, and a mother, I am also an activist. Yes, I attend peaceful protests-NOT riots, I volunteered hundreds of hours between 2 different Presidential campaigns this year, and I am that person who isn't scared to call or write to our elected officials to express my feelings, positive or otherwise. 

I have many causes I support, from LGBTQ rights, racial, social, and economic equality, and of course, the protection of our planet and the environment. Needless to say, this is a constant, uphill battle, and one I will continue to fight for the future of my children and their children. 

More than ever now , people just like you and me are seeking ways to spread positivity in our country. One way to do that is to make sure every purchase you make and every gift you give has a positive impact on our planet. prAna offers organic, hemp, sustainable, and fair trade items so that consumers feel great about the things they wear and the items they give. 

I absolutely LOVE this brand, since they offer fair trade, sustainable clothing that's not only versatile, it's luxurious as well. Their timeless looks are perfect for wherever your day takes you, from the hiking trail to the office. In fact, these garments are designed by folks who are passionate about outdoor activities. They're also great for layering, so the style possibilities are endless with prAna. 

Even though my youngest children are now 5 and 6 years old, I still buy baby wipes. After back to back babies, born only 12 months apart, we kinda just got used to using wipes for well...pretty much everything! Not to mention the fact that we have cats and dogs that sometimes leave us little....surprises....that need wiping up, like muddy pawprints, cat gak, or worse: mystery slime. 

Whether it was for their intended purposes or something unconventional like cleaning tabletops or removing makeup, baby wipes have made themselves quite at home in our household. They truly are incredibly versatile, even long after the diaper days are over. 

Even though our usage of baby wipes has evolved, I still make sure to check ingredients to make sure that I'm buying the safest, gentlest wipes possible. After all, when wiping sticky hands or faces, I care about what the kids are coming into direct contact with. This is especially true with Xander, who has somewhat sensitive skin. Artificial fragrances and harsh alcohol tend to irritate his skin, so I try to avoid products that contain these things. ​

It's that time of year, everyone! The Holiday shopping season is upon us! (At least it is if you're like me and get an early start to avoid the mad rush of frazzled, last-minute shoppers in December!) 

For the 2016 Holiday season, I will be featuring tons of great gift ideas for babies, kids, men, women, pets, and even for the person who has everything. We all have some of those on our gift lists, don't we? There will even be loads and loads of chances to win many of the gifts I am featuring. How cool is that?! You can check out my 2016 Holiday Gift Guide at any time from now till Christmas. Make sure to check often, as it will be growing by the day! 

Today, I want to talk about something that's sure to delight any kiddos that are curious about language and the world around them. 

Whistlefritz offers great, early learning products that will teach kids different languages, such as Spanish and French! Founded in 2006, Whistlefritz was borne out of a mom’s passion to teach her own children Spanish. After reading research showing that early childhood was the best time to learn a language, Whistlefritz’s founding mom set out on a mission to find fun and educational teaching materials for her children. She searched for videos with engaging storylines, featuring live speakers rather than cartoons, and teaching through immersion. Not finding what she wanted, she decided to create it: engaging, playful, live-action Spanish immersion programs for her own kids and kids everywhere!

It's that time of year, everyone! The Holiday shopping season is upon us! (At least it is if you're like me and get an early start to avoid the mad rush of frazzled, last-minute shoppers in December!) 

For the 2016 Holiday season, I will be featuring tons of great gift ideas for babies, kids, men, women, pets, and even for the person who has everything. We all have some of those on our gift lists, don't we? There will even be loads and loads of chances to win many of the gifts I am featuring. How cool is that?! You can check out my 2016 Holiday Gift Guide at any time from now till Christmas. Make sure to check often, as it will be growing by the day! 

Today, I want to talk about something that's sure to delight any kiddos that love to build and create.

The K'NEX 25 Model Ultimate Building Set offers tons of possibilities for building fun! With over 375 K'NEX rods and connectors, there's nothing that your little builder cannot create. All it takes is a little imagination. Of course detailed instructions for 25 pre-designed  builds are included as well.  Parts can be stored in the convenient treasure chest style package for easy storage.  This set is perfect for builders ages 7+. All parts are U.S.A. made.

It's that time of year, everyone! The Holiday shopping season is upon us! (At least it is if you're like me and get an early start to avoid the mad rush of frazzled, last-minute shoppers in December!) 

For the 2016 Holiday season, I will be featuring tons of great gift ideas for babies, kids, men, women, pets, and even for the person who has everything. We all have some of those on our gift lists, don't we? There will even be loads and loads of chances to win many of the gifts I am featuring. How cool is that?! You can check out my 2016 Holiday Gift Guide at any time from now till Christmas. Make sure to check often, as it will be growing by the day! 

Today, I want to talk about something that's sure to delight any thrill-ride enthusiasts OR budding designers in your life. K'NEX offers a wide assortment of building sets, including the oh-so-awesome Clock Work Roller Coasterbuilding Set!