While we anxiously await the release of Disney Pixar's Monsters University movie within the next few weeks, if you haven't seen them already, these are some of the Monsters University toys available on toy shelves everywhere.

In addition, LeapFrog just released Monsters University books for the TAG Reader and  LeapReader. A Monsters University game cartridge as well is available for the LeapPad2 and Leapster Explorer.

The Monsters University book (compare prices) is recommended for kids ages 5-8, and includes a pair of 3D glasses. The Monsters University game cartridge, recommended for kids ages 4-7, helps children improve their problem solving skills.

On May 11th, 2013, at Walt Disney World, Merida from the Disney-Pixar animated movie "Brave" was honored and inducted officially into the Disney Princess Royal Court by her mother Queen Elinor. Merida was part of a procession through the Magic Kingdom to Cinderella's Castle, riding on top of her horse Angus.

Celebrities who attended the event included British singers Sophia Grace Brownlee and Rosie McClelland, TV personalities from the Ellen Degeneres Show and Gymnastics Gold Medalist and All-Around champion, Gabby Douglas. 200 bloggers attending the Disney Social Media Moms Conference were at the event.

For those children who admire Merida and are fans of the movie, these are my favorite Merida dolls and Brave toys that were released in conjunction with the movie last year in 2012.

If you have teenage or tween aged boys, then you most likely have purchased a toy blaster. NERF tends to be the most widely recognized brand of these toys that release and fire various foam darts and discs at friends and targets. Tech4Kids Tek Recon is the latest toy blaster to enter the industry. This concept combines real firing blaster action with a video game experience using a free iOs or Android phone app. The blasters fire their own projectiles, called NRG Rounds, up to 75 feet.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Kickstarter, it's a way for companies developing unique businesses and products to gain financial backing to bring their ideas to fruition. For those of you looking to embrace a fun, new concept and pre-order your Tek Recon blasters, for various financial commitments from $25-$3500, participants may also have the ability to attend the E3 conference or star in a Tek Recon commercial. Tek Recon will be available commercially in August 2013. In addition, here's the link to the Tek Recon Kickstarter campaign.

As parents I think it' s a rite of passage at some point for kids to ask for real pets like dogs, cats, fish and hamsters. As a child I used to take horseback riding lessons. I can still remember 25 years later, vivid memories of the stable I designed in my imagination and its exact placement in a field situated behind my parents house. Children aren't programmed at young ages to have any understanding of the responsibility and cost associated with owning animals. While as parents we do, which places us in a situation where we don't have many alternatives.

With advances in technology, there is a whole new wave of pet toys, that aren't the old fashioned remote control type. These toys have embedded touch sensors, motion sensors and computers. Aside from reacting to being pet or spoken to, many of these toys are capable of learning tricks and developing personalities. Even better, their price tag is generally under $100, proving them to be a much more cost effective way to experiment with having a pet without the mess and long-term financial responsibility.

Here's a list of some of the newest toy pets that include dogs, horses, monkeys, and fish, ranging in price points from $10 - $100. Though it won't satisfy your child's yearning desire for a real life pet, it might save the entire family from any financial stress and arguments over whose job it is to clean a cage or scoop the poop in the yard!