I just came from The Flying Machine gala at the Toronto International Film Festival. As chance would have it, I sat right next to Heather Graham herself and her boyfriend. I’ll tell you all about it when I wake up — I’m exhausted after a long TIFF-filled weekend! Suffice it to say, though, I was happy I could tell Heather in person, right when the last credit rolled, that it was a really special film.

To see my full review of the film, go to Celebrity Candy. Better yet, go see it in the theatre! If you’re in Toronto, you can catch it at the TIFF Lightbox, Sunday, September 18.

More to come on the main page later this week. The Monkey got a chance to hold the actual doll from the movie (in red, above), and run her hands dreamily along the magnificent flying machine…. Lucky girl!

So go and take your kids: marvel in the groundbreaking 3D stop-motion animation, learn a ton about Chopin, get lost in the art…. I am a huge fan of this truly special film — so much so that I had a hard time holding back tears at the end. I get emotional when I witness something so intelligent, complex and creative for children. More deets, pics, magical moments to come asap!

Call 416.599.TIFF | 1.888.599.8433 for tix!

Love!

xo Haley-O

Frankly, I hadn’t. I’d never heard of it. But the moment I slipped in the DVD, the kids were HOOKED. I can’t really explain it because the episodes (Volume 1 is made up of seven 12-minute episodes) are really simple. But maybe that’s exactly why they like it: the suspense is minimal; yet there’s so much action, and definitely a ton of really great messages about friendship, teamwork, etc..

THUS, Cheaty Recommends (the box says ages 4-8, but my ~3-year-old Rascal LOVES it).

Note that I’m not the only one who recommends Turbo Dogs. It’s the winner of many awards including: 2009 Parents Choice Award; Dove Family Seal of Approval (5/5); and a KIDS FIRST! endorsement by the Coalition for Quality Children’s Media. So, checkit. Here’s a clip of the DVD — coming out TOMORROW (September 14):

And here’s the synopsis from the Turbo Dogs peeps:

Dash, Mags, GT, Strut, Stinkbert and Clutch are the town’s Turbo Dogs and although they may be fierce competitors on the track and let’s face it, celebrities in the town of Racerville, they always (well almost always) try to remember that winning isn’t everything. While kids are sure to get caught up in the action-packed storylines and non-stop antics, an emphasis on team work will also see that they zoom away with some rules for the road.

So checkit! And let me know if your kids LOVE it as much as mine do!

Love!

xo Haley-O

P.S.: I was given a complimentary copy of Turbo Dogs to review by eOne Films. I only recommend products that my kids or I truly enjoy. I was not paid to write this post. xoxo

Even my sister’s FIVE-MONTH-OLD loved the show. His big round eyes were glued to the rink, his little head bobbing to the fabulous Disney music. And doesn’t Disney have the most fabulous music? Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid….

I think The Little Mermaid was my favourite part of the show (at least of the first half). Because the skater who played Ariel was a-ma-zing. I felt like I was watching Olympic-class skating.

After taking us through 4 Princess stories — Aladdin, Snow White (Rascal LOVED the Dwarfs!)….

…Sleeping Beauty (the music…!), Mulan, and Beauty and the Beast — there was an intermission. The Monkey and I ran downstairs and she DANCED with me, as if she herself were a princess! Did I mention she was, of course, wearing her Disney princess dress? Complete with RUFFLES and PINK? Motherbumper and Her Bad Mother‘s kids (whom we bumped into on the way out) were ALSO wearing their dresses!

After the intermission, we were treated to the entire Cinderella story….

Bippity bobbity boo! And we loved it.

I got teary-eyed at one point in the show. Because this production was so wonderful for the kids: the settings, the costumes, the choreography, the skating were all pretty spectacular — and it was all FOR THE KIDS. Fahklempt! And I got teary-eyed because the show succeeded in bringing ME back to my own childhood, and my dreams and belief in magic.

Cheaty highly recommends…. Check Cheaty Goodies for tix and a special promotion.

Happy Holidays!