The Magic Experience of VOLTA by Cirque du Soleil

August 15, 2017 by Kathryn 1 Comment

I’ve seen Cirque du Soleil performances before, so I thought I had a pretty good idea about what I was getting from VOLTA. I was wrong. VOLTA is next level and I cannot tell you enough times to go see it.

Where do I start? The huge white big top itself is gorgeous, unusual, magical and set the right scene from the second we approached. I should have realised then that we were about to see something special.

We were lucky enough to get great seats and find ourselves really in the thick of the show. We were just a few rows back from the stage, and in the center, so we could look right into the eyes of the performers. Their spirit, skill and pure love of what they were doing was inspiring. And what they were doing absolutely blew my mind.

VOLTA has a real action-sports vibe in its production (I found out later that the directors have been collaborating with Red Bull extreme sports athletes), and the performance switched beautifully between high-voltage BMX bike-riding to graceful dance interludes to some truly incredible acrobatics. I found myself enjoying swings, spins and sensational entertainment right from the very beginning.

The BMX work was, for me, the highlight of the show – the performers flipped, whirled, rotated and pushed their bikes into positions that seemed to defy the laws of physics. It was amazing to watch! I think it was about more than just their skill, though – the staging was very creative. (The stage itself was dynamic so could lift, shift and move to push the athletes through their paces even harder.) I never felt like I really knew what was going to happen next.

I also appreciated that the spectacle of the show supported rather than overwhelmed the story, and the lead character’s journey of transformation was beautifully sketched. The bright and brilliant costumes helped track the rhythm of his changing persona and communicated a sense of high performance as well as thrills and spills.

You do need to know that the show itself is in French (as it’s staged in a majority French-speaking area), but you can still easily follow it if you’re not Francophone (acrobatics needs no translation). There are also a lot of dance elements which hold the entire production together, but, for me, they helped with the flow of the story.

What can I tell you about Cirque du Soliel VOLTA? I wasn’t expecting any of it. I thought we would have a good night, but it was incredible. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting that. It’s a fusion of dance, action sports, theatre and acrobatics. See it if you can.

The show can be seen in Gatineau, QC until the 27th of August and from the 7th to 29th of November in Toronto, ON. More information can be found at https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta.

Don’t Miss These 3 Must-Experience Family Attractions in Toronto, Ontario

March 4, 2016 by Kathryn 30 Comments

Canada has many popular cities when it comes to family vacations, but Toronto is easily one of the top choices for travel…and with good reason! From museums and art galleries to theatres and shopping malls, the city has something to please everyone.

But there are some Toronto experiences that absolutely cannot be missed, especially for families visiting the city for the first time. If you have a trip to Toronto in your future, these are three attractions that you’ll want to make sure you fit into your schedule!

The CN Tower

The tower that helped make the Toronto skyline (and the city itself) stand out among other world capitals is a place that everyone should visit when in the city. While it may seem like the CN Tower doesn’t have a whole lot to impress children, the speedy ride in the elevator is something kids of all ages will love, and the glass floor that lets visitors look down and see just how high above the ground they are is sure to thrill…and maybe even terrify a little! [Read more…]

Clear Out Clutter for a Cause During the Glad #Donate4Good Program with Goodwill

August 6, 2015 by Kathryn 23 Comments

I didn’t realize until we started packing up to move out of our house just how much unneeded items my boys and I had accumulated. From toys to clothes to dishware, I found so much that just wasn’t being used anymore and so wasn’t needed. But I knew that some of our items might be able to help those in need, so I started packing up bags and boxes to donate.

It’s sometimes hard to realize just how much we collect over the years, so clearing out the clutter periodically is important. And when the items we no longer love can make others happy, it just makes sense to purge the house periodically! That’s why I’m so excited about the Donate4Good partnership between Glad and Goodwill taking place right now in the GTA. [Read more…]

Come Join @ThePMCF #OneWalkShoeSelfie Twitter Party on June 2 at 8pm EST

May 29, 2015 by Kathryn 2 Comments

When I was just a child, my grandmother died of breast cancer. I remember hearing some time later that I had a one in eight chance of getting breast cancer myself as a result, and that my mother had a one in two chance of the same thing. While new studies have shown that’s not true and that only 5-10% of breast cancers are hereditary, it’s something that worried me in younger years.

Cancer is one of those diseases that has affected almost everyone at some point, whether from personal experience or from the struggles of a family member or friend. And if you’re looking for a way to show support for loved ones battling the disease, the Shoppers Drug Mart OneWalk to Conquer Cancer is a fun way to be part of a game-changing movement to conquer cancer.

[Read more…]

Treat Mom To A Clean House on Mother’s Day with a Special Offer from Helpling.com

May 6, 2015 by Kathryn 38 Comments

I always find it interesting how I never realized until I became a parent just how much my mom did for me when I was growing up. Raising children is rewarding, but it’s also exhausting and a mother’s work is never done when it comes to caring for them! This Mother’s Day, Helpling.com, a fabulous Toronto cleaning company dedicated to making a mom’s busy life easier, has created an adorable video celebrating just how much mothers do for us. Take a look and see what you think!

Enjoy Mother’s day with Helpling Canada

Helpling is a new online service that takes some of the workload off of Mom with its innovative home cleaning services. Instead of worrying about interviewing cleaners, coordinating schedules or managing cash payments, just visit Helpling.com! The company’s experienced and insured home cleaners are standing by, ready to get your house looking spick and span when you’re short on time. [Read more…]

The 4 Toronto Restaurants Everyone Should Experience

November 21, 2014 by Kathryn 43 Comments

Toronto is a city that really has a bit of everything, and that’s especially true when it comes to food. Virtually any culinary creation imaginable is available in the city, from exotic cuisine to locally sourced delicacies. Needless to say, deciding which restaurant to visit when evening rolls around is no easy task! But these four highly acclaimed choices are sure to satisfy your craving for great food when you’re touring the T-Dot.

Best Thai Restaurant – Golden Thai

The popular Golden Thai restaurant is conveniently located in downtown Toronto and has been a top destination for food-lovers for more than twenty years. There are a variety of Thai specialties to choose from and literally something for everyone considering the menu has over sixty different categories! While the Phad Thai is a favourite for its enticing blend of flavours, the Golden Thai Classics are a great choice for couples or families that want to try a bit of everything. [Read more…]

Top Four Vehicle Picks for Canadians from the CIAS Canadian International Auto Show

March 23, 2014 by Paresh Pandya 49 Comments

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Canadian International Auto Show held at the Metro Toronto Convention Center. The Auto Show has been a tradition of mine for years as I never miss the chance to spend a day (or two!) eyeing all the hot new cars manufacturers have lined up for us to ogle. With nameplates like Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, and Porsche all on display, it’s easy to start thinking about buying a few more lottery tickets or selling a body part to make a down payment.

But as much fun and excitement the exotics offer, a good portion of the show’s 600,000 square-foot floor is dedicated to everyday cars and trucks purchased by Canadians daily. With over 1,000 vehicles on display, it’s the best place for visitors to comparison shop without any pressure or hassles. Having checked out various makes and models, here are a few of my favourite picks for Canadians:

Mazda3

At the show Mazda won 2014 Canadian Car of the Year for their mid-sized Mazda6 sedan. While the floor was buzzing with excitement over the win, I found myself just as excited by its smaller brother the Mazda3. With gorgeous flowing lines, the bold grill and swept-back headlight assembly completes a package that says, “Hey! Let’s go someplace fun today!”

Inside I found controls to be within easy reach, while its BMW-esque dashboard (particularly the center display unit) gives a sense of premium styling and features. Fuel economy is also a key feature with Mazda’s Skyactiv suite of technologies delivering impressive results while maintaining Mazda’s peppy drive characteristic. With a choice of sedan or hatchback, there’s plenty of options and trim levels to appeal to a wide array of buyers (personally I love the GT hatchback with the larger 2.5L engine). I wasn’t too thrilled with the overly sized center tachometer, but that’s a minor detail I’m willing to overlook given how terrific the rest of the car is. [Read more…]

Looking Back – A Year of Adventure with Mommy Kat and Kids

January 14, 2014 by Kathryn 49 Comments

The last year at Mommy Kat and Kids was packed with some amazing experiences, but it wasn’t until I looked at each month of 2013 that I realized just how fabulous it truly was. Come check out some of my top adventures from 2013!

January

The year kicked off with a bang as I headed to the Ford NAIAS event in Detroit, Michigan. It was fascinating learning about the process of making an F-150 at the Deerbourne plant and exploring the fabulous Henry Ford museum. [Read more…]