I live in a little pink house (we’ve bought our first home) in an enchanted forest deep in the heart of the Laurentians in Quebec, Canada with my 5 9 year old son Loïk, my wonderful husband Francis, our black lab Jack Spice and our two polydactyl calico’s Bonsai and Willow.

Update 2012 – Our family has moved to another part of the enchanted forest where we are lovingly “greenovating” our home. After sending our son to school for kindergarten and half a year of first grade, we realized that we don’t fit the mold and that our son doesn’t either. We made the decision to homeschool him and we’ve never looked back. He’s now a happy, healthy, thriving 9 year old. Our life is now almost  completely blissfully simple. But it wasn’t always so.

Had you met me 10 years ago, you would have known a smart, goal driven, ambitious, corporate ladder climbing, but nice ,city girl who thought she would achieve happiness and fulfillment through her career in IT, a thick wallet and daily all you can eat sushi.

My world came crashing down 10 years ago when I had it all … and then realized I really had nothing I needed.

My boss owned me AND my time, my credit card debt was larger than my nest egg, and I was on the verge of losing the love of my life because of the countless hours I was spending glued to my monitor. Although I loved my comfort zone, (and especially my team and co-workers) I really wasn’t very comfortable after all… in the grand scheme of things.

So, I quit.

And just like that, I began creating the life I really wanted. It’s been easy and it’s been complicated… I’ve occasionally made it hell (just to keep it interesting I guess) because most of the time, I feel as though I live in heaven on earth.

I’m now a full time mother, wife, friend,  sister, artist, photographer, and socially conscious voice over artist and I prepare my own delicious sushi whenever I feel like it.

Update 2012 – I’ve decided to finally allow myself to be a full time artist and I couldn’t be happier about it. I’m currently creating a line of positive prints, canvases and audio clips and my goal is to help you invest in yourself through my art. I’m looking forward to telling you more about this.

I’ve been volunteering in my community in a number of different ways for the last 10 years and I’ve decided to integrate that more closely with my business. I’m currently working out the details and I’ll provide more information on this aspect of my business. This also brings me great joy!

When I’m not busy teaching, learning or serving my partners and clients, I meditate under trees and I whisper positive words in the wind. I build bridges, I plant seeds and I listen and give my support. I motivate others and ignite the sparks of change. I get down often… but I get back up again. I believe that world peace begins with inner peace and I work at it every day. I care for the environment, I practice voluntary simplicity and I want to do business with companies who support fair trade and who think, like me, that “it’s personal… it’s not just business.”

I love going on FUN! Spontaneous adventures and most of the time, Loïk and I walk around the house with paint on our faces because housework is just more Fun! when you’re a superhero! Update : Although our superhero phase is over, we discovering new ways to make the mundane, fun!

I’ve come to learn that the journey is much more important than the destination and so, I’m learning to breathe and just live in the moment. Being positive and staying on your path is a process… One year at a time, one month at a time, one week, one day and finally one thought at a time. As such, I’ve completely rejected “the five year plan.”My goal as I get up every morning is to make my life and my world better… today.

So welcome to Avoxtar! Now that you’ve found me, I’m dying to know: Are you part of my tribe? I’d love for you to say hello!

Sending positive thoughts and energy to you,

Yanik