OVO Cirque du Soleil, a performance unlike any other!

“How can a show that doesn’t have any “real” spoken words be so awesome?” was the observation made by my husband on the drive home from the most amazing performance ever, OVO Cirque du Soleil.  I almost corrected him, but then I took a moment to reflect on the show and he was totally right! Oh my gosh…there were no real, comprehendible words spoken during the entire performance. And yet, I understood and followed the show effortlessly, and what’s more, so did my husband and kids, how was that possible?  The emotion, tone, visuals, music, and amazing performers provided a cohesive experience that transcended verbal language and spoke directly to the soul.

 

The fluid movement of the performers, the visual effects that literally pulled the audience in with movement, paired with the synchronized lights and sound effects provided such a lifelike experience, for a moment I had to remind myself that those performers were not real insects. However, our 6 year old was totally immersed in the imaginary, so much so that she even yelled out a couple times to the performers in excitement.

And as I looked down the aisle at my tween, 9 year old, & husband each with their eyes opened wide and faces lit up in awe I realized that OVO Cirque du Soleil managed to do something that no other show or performance we have attended as a family has ever done, it fully absorbed each of our attention and that is no easy task!  The narrative of the insects and the mysterious egg pulled us in but it was the agility, fluidity, and beauty illustrated by the acrobats, gymnasts, and performers that kept us on the edge of our seats.

It was so exceptional that a standing ovation didn’t seem qualitative to such an outstanding performance but alas, it was all we had….so we stood and frantically clapped in utter delight. Though I must admit a part of me was a little sad that it was over. The experience was not just beautiful and awe inspiring but it was darn right relaxing and as a mom I appreciate any experience that can arouse a peaceful feeling within. Thankfully there is a soundtrack so I can try to channel that relaxing experience on otherwise crazy and chaotic days.

This is one performance you don’t want to pass up; it literally captivates ALL audience members. So grab your tickets today and be prepared to experience one of the most impressive, relaxing, captivating, awe inspiring performances.

ShowTime’s/dates:

June 1st – 7:30 p.m.

June 2nd – 7:30 p.m.

June 3rd – 4 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

June 4th – 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Location:

Huntington Center 401 Jefferson Ave Toledo, OH 43604, United States

Website:

https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/usa/toledo/ovo/buy-tickets

Box office:

419-321-5007

Ticketmaster Charge by Phone:

1-800-745-3000

 

Kids’ Review Monster Jam

We went to Monster Jam last night! The kiddos had a blast! Well, 2 out of 3 of the kiddos had a blast. Our 5 year old had issues with the noise, so her and daddy watched via the television in the lobby while enjoying refreshments. They had their own little daddy & daughter date. The older two, our 8 and 10 year olds lost their minds in all the noise; they were cheering, jumping up and down, and simply beaming with joy!

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I thought it might be fun to let the kiddos share their take on the evening. So without further ado…

How excited were you to go to Monster Jam?

10 years old: “I wasn’t too excited until Friday morning and then I was really excited!”

8 years old: “I have been waiting a year for this day and it finally arrived but I am sad because it is over”.

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What was your favorite part of the evening?

10 years old: “The Freestyle, Zombie Hunter was the best and it was a girl driver!”

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8 years old: “The Freestyle was awesome but I thought it was really AWESOME when Grave Digger flipped TWICE!!”.

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What Monster Jam truck is your favorite?

10 years old: “I can’t decide, it’s between Zombie Hunter and Grave Digger”.

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8 years old: “Grave Digger!!”

 

You know how mom is looking for a new car? What if I got a Monster truck?

10 years old: “You can’t do that”.

8years old: “That would be the coolest! Yes, do that! Get one like the Grave Digger”

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What would you tell other parents out there who can’t decide whether or not to take their kids to Monster Jam?

10 years old: “Do it, take them, girls and boys.”

8 years old: “If you want to be good parents, take them to Monster Jam”.

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And there you have it folks, from the mouths of babes! I guess the only thing left to say is, Enjoy the Show!!

Show Dates & Times

Saturday, March 5   2:00 PM   7:00 PM

Sunday, March 6   2:00 PM

 

TICKET INFO:

Monster Jam® at Huntington Center Friday March 4th– Sunday, March 6th. Tickets start at just $15! Purchasing Link   http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/65566/1542376  or order over the phone by calling 1-800-745-3000

 

 

 

Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream WIN Family 4 pack Tickets

Classic meets contemporary in Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream! Join your favorite Disney Princesses in a celebration of 75 years of Disney Princess stories, including two-modern day princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana; the always elegant Cinderella; and the princess who started it all, Snow White. Laugh at Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled, as Rapunzel; her unlikely companion, Flynn; and Maximus, the Captain of the Guard’s determined horse; embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths!

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Travel to the enchanted forest with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Snow White escapes from the Evil Queen in her search for her one true love. Watch as fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true. And boogie to the beat of the bayou in a magical, musical journey that celebrates the story of The Princess and the Frog with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.

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All your favorite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime! Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream comes to your hometown!

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Show Times Schedule: At Huntington Center Toledo, OH

Date Morning  Afternoon  Late Afternoon  Evening

Thursday, Dec. 3       7:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 4       7:00 PM

Saturday, Dec. 5 11:00 AM 3:00 PM   7:00 PM

Sunday, Dec. 6   1:00 PM 5:00 PM

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Exclusive Savings:

Opening Night tickets are just $12 – No code needed! Kid’s tickets start at just $12! – no code needed

(Discount does not apply to Rinkside, Front Row, or VIP seats. No double discounts.  Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply. Child discount applies for ages 2-12).

 

Ticketing Information:

Price Level Price

Rinkside $55.00

VIP $32.00

3rd $20.00

4th $15.00

Order Tickets Here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/65566/1599972

 

CONTEST!

Mom on the go in Holy Toledo is giving away a family 4 pack of tickets

To be entered complete the following steps:

ONE- must complete 3 of the following, you can decide which 3:

1.Share this post on Facebook. (simply click on button at the bottom of page)

2.Share this post on Twitter #DisneyOnIce (button at bottom of page)

3.Show Disney On Ice Facebook page some love

4.Follow Disney On Ice on Twitter

5.Share this post on Pinterest (button at bottom of page)

TWO- Comment below expressing what your favorite Princess/favorite Disney Movie is.

Winner will be randomly selected November 20th @ 11:59pm. Winners name will be announced the 21st on this blog post thread and on Mom on the go in Holy Toledo’s Facebook page.

 

 

Circus XTREME, Entertaining & Educational!?!

 

We attended the 145th edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Circus XTREME!! And it was AWESOME!!

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We made certain we arrived early to experience all the fun pre-show activities!! We had the pleasure of stepping foot on the main floor, meeting some of the amazing performers, tried on some sweet costumes, got to volley a beach ball with an elephant, learned some circus skills, and more! Pics below is of our 4th grader giving the tightrope a try. The performers were so sweet with the children; they helped guide them and made them feel like superstars!

 

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And then it was time for the moment we had all been waiting for, the greatest show on Earth began!!! We so enjoyed watching Alex and Irina on their adventures for the most XTREME!

 

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I took such delight in watching the children’s expressions and hearing their comments during all the magnificent performances. I am finding that as our family gets on in the years it becomes more difficult to find family activities that captivate the attention of all 3 children. Either activates are to mature for our youngest or too “babyish” for the older two but circus XTREME totally nailed it & drew the entire family in! At one point I even took delight in seeing our 4th grader beaming with joy as she took pics of the performances on her iPod. Of course as soon as she made eye contact with me and saw I was smiling her expression faded but I got my glimpse of her joy and that was enough for me!

Meanwhile our preschooler literally fell out of her seat ½ a dozen times! She was dancing to the music, clapping her hands, screaming with enthusiasm, etc. At one point she even leaned over and shouted, “MOM! He doesn’t have a safety belt on!!” in astonishment! LOL! And she was legitimately speechless, (which is XTREMELY rare for her), when she saw mermaids floating in the sky.

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Our 2nd grader was in awe over the BMX freestyle riders & trampoline acrobats.

 

I personally thought the bungee skydivers aerial acro-ballet was the perfect combination of elegant & edgy, the black lights really solidified the cool factor! I have so much admiration for the performers. I had the pleasure of taking an aerial fabric class locally with a group of moms and I was absolutely astonished at the amount of strength, endurances, etc. that goes into those performances, they make it look so fluid and effortless.

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We had the best time! Our second grader even came over to me afterwards, gave me a big hug and said thank you for bringing him to the show….swoon!!!

 

 

What ensued once we got home was a magnificent conversation. The children were absolutely amazed & astonished by all the quality of the performances and performers. We discussed all the hard work, practice, integrity, endurance, perseverance, and trust that go into those performances. Math might have also come up in the conversation, a lot of the performances involve math, I do believe going to the circus might have just encouraged my kiddos to go over their math facts every night & for that I thank you Circus XTREME! And I also thank Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus XTREME for such a magnificent family friendly entertaining evening…and for making me cool in my 4th graders eyes, even if it was only for a couple hours, I will take it!! Don’t miss out on your opportunity for a fun filled family experience….XTREME is only here for a limited amount of time, get your tickets today!!

SHOW DATES & TIMES:

Friday, Oct. 30 7:00 PM

Saturday, Oct. 31 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM    

Sunday, Nov. 1 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, & 7:00 PM

TICKET INFO:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME at Huntington Center Thursday October 29th– November 4th 2015. Tickets start at just $15! CLICK HERE to order or order over the phone by calling 1-800-745-3000

Ringling Bros. Circus XTREME is coming to TOLEDO!! Win TICKETS!

Last year’s Ringling Brothers & Barnum Baily Show was literally Legendary! It was absolutely exhilarating watching all the talented performers; they amazed us, took our breath away, & left us longing for more! This year Ringling Bros. is back and they are taking things to XTREME! Tickets are currently on sale for Circus XTREME at Huntington Center for October 29th-Nov.1st 2015.

XTREME

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Circus XTREME! It’s time for your family to be amazed by all the X-TRAORDINARY things you know and love about America’s favorite live family entertainment experience. Be astonished by UN-XPECTED circus spectacles you’ve never seen before and that can’t be seen anywhere else but at The Greatest Show on Earth! Get ready for an X-HILARATING adventure with X-TRAORDINARY circus artists and magnificent X-OTIC animals! It’s time to awaken the spirit of Children of all ages and stir the imagination of your family! It’s time to have XTREME fun with your family! Get your tickets today!

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ALL ACCESS PRE-SHOW!

The All Access Pre-Show is your chance to feel what it’s like to be part of The Greatest Show On Earth ®! You and your family are specially invited to an amazing circus experience and FREE ADMISSION comes with your ticket! Step Right Up and be part of the All Access Pre-Show where Children Of All Ages are invited down to the show floor to try on costumes, learn circus skills, meet the performers and get their picture taken with the clowns!

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Then, enter for a chance to win an original pachyderm painting, which is painted right in front of you by one of the world famous Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey ® elephants! All this and more when you arrive an hour early, and remember, FREE ADMISSION with your ticket!

SHOW DATES & TIMES:

Thursday, Oct. 29 7:00 PM

Friday, Oct. 30 7:00 PM

Saturday, Oct. 31 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM    

Sunday, Nov. 1 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM, & 7:00 PM

TICKET INFO:

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Circus XTREME at Huntington Center Thursday October 29th– November 4th 2015. Tickets start at just $15! CLICK HERE to order or order over the phone by calling 1-800-745-3000

OPENING NIGHT DISCOUNT OFFER:

Opening Night tickets are just $12-No code needed! Kid’s tickets start at just $12! (Additional fees apply. Excludes Rinkside, Front Row, and VIP seats) – No code needed CLICK HERE to purchase now!

CONTEST!

Mom on the go in Holy Toledo is giving away a family 4 pack of tickets redeemable for any of the circus dates/times.

To be entered complete the following steps:

ONE- must complete 3 of the following, you can decide which 3:

  1. Share this post on Facebook. (simply click on button at the bottom of page)
  2. Share this post on Twitter #CircusXtreme (button at bottom of page)
  3. Show Ringling Bro Facebook page some love
  4. Follow Ringling Bro. on Twitter
  5. Share this post on Pinterest (button at bottom of page)

TWO- Comment below expressing what your favorite Circus act/favorite performers are in the Circus.

Winner will be randomly selected October 20th @ 11:59pm. Winners name will be announced the 21st on this blog post thread and on Mom on the go in Holy Toledo’s Facebook page.

 

Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes with Local Heroes

“Mommy, I am so excited to see all my friends, Mickey, Minnie, Belle, Anna, Else, and I think the rest of the princesses can make it too!” exclaimed our 4 year old as we made our way to the Huntington Center. “There better be some Heroes too, not just Princesses!” declared our 7 year old son. “There is a hero in every story. Just look for them!” kindly replied our 9 year old daughter. Before the show we had a little surprise for the kids. A meet and greet with a very special Princess/Queen! But this wasn’t any meet and greet, this one was extra special because the children who were attending had a parent that was either deployed, serving, or served in the military. Thanks to Heroes in Action, a local Military outreach committed to supporting our service members, veterans, and their families, military families were able to attend the meet & greet and the show!  The experience was a touching one. It broke my heart hearing about some of the struggles these families face, especially after sacrificing so much for their country.

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To know that I was standing in a climate controlled building, safe, with my family, enjoying watching all the children’s expressions as they went up to Princess/Queen Elsa, meanwhile their own parents’ were missing this awesome experience so I could have my freedom. It was an extremely humbling experience!! I am so grateful for all our service men and women who sacrifice these special moments with their own children so that mine can be safe and freed. Clearly our daughter was correct; there is a Hero in every story! For we each have many Heroes in our own life stories…sometimes we just need reminding. After shedding a tear or two we headed for our seats. 

 

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With the wave of Tinker Bell’s wand and the comforting lull of ‘When you wish upon a Star’ it was as if the entire crowd was magically transformed back to childhood! Adults and children singing side-by-side, clapping ferociously each time a princess appeared, and when they were gracefully lifted up by their Heroes….so romantic!

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Intermission fun…pause for some comical relief with silly faces! Don’t know what it is about Disney that just brings out my childlike side. Haha!

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It was a night filled with classic Disney songs, characters, and magic but the real man of the hour, the showstopper was this guy…..

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I wish I had recorded the screams and yelps of excitement coming from the Huntington Center when this cute snowman made his grand entrance! Olaf was by far the most popular character on ice! And his infamous line, “Only an act of true love will thaw a frozen heart”, gets me every time! I had a rather emotional night, haha!

We all had a great time, yes, even our little man. It wasn’t all princesses as he had fear. In fact during one scene he actually let out a loud “Wow! Awesome!” when there was fire on the ice! He has been talking about it ever since! (And…he would kill me if he knew I told you but, I caught him singing a few of the Frozen songs. Shhh! Haha!)

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We had a magnificent time at Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes! I so enjoyed watching my children’s faces light up throughout the performance. It was the perfect family experience! And the meet & greet beforehand truly opened up my eyes to the amazing opportunities I have been given, how truly blessed our families is, and how grateful and thankful I am for all the Heroes who fought/fight for our freedom & all the sacrifices they have made. Please consider donating to Heroes in Action….they support families by meeting with personal needs, housing and auto repairs, food baskets, newborn baskets, blankets for the wounded and whatever else they are able to do. They work with many other organizations to help educate, prepare and equip families with benefit information and emotional issues that may occur with service members. They do the unique and operate on donations. 

Also, be sure to get Disney on Ice Princesses & Heroes tickets for your family if you haven’t done so already! You will be glad you did!

 

Disclosure: I was given tickets for the family to attend the show and kiddos enjoyed meeting Elsa and received Snow White souvenir and other goodies. No other compensation was received, and all opinions expressed are my own.

 

Monster Jam Fun!

My most favorite thing to do on this planet is to enjoy new experiences as a family. And yesterday’s experience ranks in my top ten! Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend Monster Jam! But wait, it gets better.  First we had Pizza in the Pits! The kiddos got to dig in the dirt, color, play, see the trucks up close, eat pizza and other yummy treats, and best of all, meet the drivers and get autographs!!

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I have to be honest; the extent of my knowledge when it came to a Monster Trucks did not venture far beyond my son’s Hot Wheels trucks (which, on a SAHM budget doubles quite nicely as a back massage…just have them use your back as the track). So to see a Monster truck up close and actually look at all the workings was rather fascinating.

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The massive size of the wheels was astonishing. I was in shock when the driver said a new tire, one tire, cost between $2,500 and $3,000. And I thought the tires for the Yukon were pricy!!

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The kiddos were so excited when they met the drivers, especially our 6 year old. He became a little star struck when he asked for their autographs; I never realized the volume of his voice could go so low…now I know. Haha! He really enjoyed the experience, in fact all 3 of them did. I was a little unsure of how they would react to the actual Monster Jam.

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After Pizza in the Pit we located our seats. One word, AMAZING! The seats were perfect! We had a nice view of everything and the best part; Grave Digger and Dragon Breath were parked just beneath us. Those were the kiddos’ favorites.
The show started with a rumble and to my astonishment our 3 year old loved it! I was concerned because she is deathly afraid of thunder or any loud noises and apparently the bond she had made with the trucks before the show was enough to squash any anxiety.

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And then the highlight of the night occurred…..

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Grave Digger flipped!! And with it all the kids!! Our son thought it was so awesome especially when they had to call in reinforcements to help flip it over.

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And then our 3 year old lost it. She literally started crying because she thought the truck would be broken forever. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that our 3 year old little girl would be crying over a Monster truck. Nor did I ever think she would enjoy it so much.

We had such a wonderful time. It truly was fun for the entire family. The kiddos are already looking forward to going again! And in the meantime they are having fun recreating the event with their own Monster truck tracks, play-dough, and Monster trucks. Haha!

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Have you ever been to a Monster Jam event? Have you seen a Monster truck up close? Are your kiddo’s fans of Monster trucks? Do you find those Hot Wheel ones all over the house?

Disclosure: I was given seats to Pizza in the Pit, tickets to Monster Jam, and kiddos received Hot Wheels Monster Jam Maximum deconstruction system, and other goodies. No other compensation was received, and all opinions expressed are my own.