Live Your Dream Out Loud!!!!

Life is a journey. Each one of us is here on this earth for a distinct purpose.  Some people know what that purpose is very early on in life, while for others it takes many, many years to discover.  What those of us who are on this latter course  have to keep in mind is that the journey itself is the interesting part. We all have wonderful talents and ideas to share with the world, we just have to stop for a moment and try to put the pieces of the puzzle together....one day at a time until we finally understand the whole picture.

Eventually you will find the work you love to do, that feels right and authentic. You know you are on the right path in life when you realize the specific design (map of life) that will help guide you to your true purpose in life. But the key is to relax, live in the moment and enjoy the ride. I’ve done quite a bit of wandering and self-exploration over the last few years, trying to discover my true passion in life.  From working in the education system as a specialized educator for the last 20 years, raising our child the best that we can and being involved in a weight loss program that has done so much for me from the inside/out.

Nutrition, health, healthy eating cooking seminars and creating my  very own website are definitely highlights in the last three years of my life. My journey seems to be taking me on a wild ride full of surprises and exciting adventures....keeps me on my toes for sure!!!!All of these life experiences have helped me to become an empowered person which means that I can make my own decisions and make the best choices for myself and my family without being influenced by standard media and mainstream news.

When I sit down at night with a nice green tea and just let my mind drift away in thought, I feel my tension slowly fade away.  When I do this, I realize every single life experience I have had to date has been necessary for both my personal growth and to get me to where it is I am meant to go.  I am most certainly on a path and each of these experiences is prepping me for what is yet to come…the unknown...the adrenaline that keeps you going...

There is a sense of comfort and relief  knowing I am on the right path and that the most important thing for me to do is to stay true to myself.  To trust my intuition…it will guide me where I need to go.  If something feels right, I will pursue it and if it doesn’t, I won’t. Only I can make that final decision. That also means not allowing myself  to compromise my core beliefs to accommodate someone else and not allowing other people’s negativity to take me off course. I have encountered this in my journey to a better lifestyle, but with the encouragement of family and friends I have climbed that obstacle without a scratch, it has only made me wiser!!
I see it as a learning experience, a twist that life will sometimes throw at you to prove your strength and determination....

Staying true to myself can be a challenge for sure, but one worth its weight in gold.  I need to focus on my dreams and  live an honest life. I need to find a balance which at the same time keeps both my feet well grounded and most importantly not lose my ultimate goal which is to be happy and healthy with my husband and son for many years to come...

A special thank you to Jason for helping me realize through endless emails and newsletters the strength to become the person that I am today....

Stay healthy......

Sylvie Thibert

Dedicated To All Of My Amazing Friends!!!!!!

How friendship is defined by many:
-The tendency to desire what is best for the other.
 -Sympathy and empathy towards one another.
 -Honesty, perhaps in situations where it may be difficult for others to speak the truth, especially in terms of  pointing out the perceived faults of one's counterpart.
 (ie; clothing is too tight...)
-Mutual understanding and compassion.
-Trust in one another ,able to express feelings without the fear of being judged.
-Comfortable to go to each other for emotional support.
-Friendship is a relationship based on equal give and take between the two parties.

                                                   
                                                            
Friendship and health
The conventional wisdom is that good friendships enhance an individuals sense of happiness and overall well-being. But a number of solid studies support the notion that strong social supports improve a woman’s prospects for good health and longevity. It has been shown that loneliness and lack of social supports are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, viral infections, and cancer as well as higher mortality rates. Two female researchers have even termed friendship networks a “behavioral vaccine” that protects both physical and mental health.

All of this to say that I don't know where I would be today,without my wonderful friends. I have been so lucky throughout my life to always be surrounded by great ladies. I have always had someone there that I could talk to, cry with, laugh with, celebrate with etc.....very fortunate indeed!!!

My friends old and new each bring something different with them, a special gift of their own experiences. This in turn helps me to enrich my own life and I learn and grow from that. In life we will go through heartbreaks, happy moments, weddings, losses of dear ones, etc...and we will manage to remain close during all of these life experiences and everyday challenges. We will Always have an encouraging word for one another and a shoulder to lean on.

A true friend is always there in your time of need. No matter the distance they are always close to your heart and but a phone call away. I know that we have a very special bond and that nothing will ever be able to break or change that feeling. We may not see each other every day or very often but we are always connected in our heart and mind.

Never forget to let your friends know that they are very special in your life!! A "Just because...." note in the mail, a special personal email message, an unexpected phone call, a special evening out..etc....

Thank you all so much for being part of my life and making it so worth living. I really feel surrounded by special hearts that beat as one. Never change, you are all like roses, one of a kind and never forget that!!!

Stay healthy.....

Love,

Sylvie
xxxoooo

The Great Outdoors.....What Are You Waiting For?????

 How  fortunate we are to be able to find so much natural beauty in our surrounding area. This is my son Alex, walking on the boardwalk at the Bird Sanctuary in Morrisburg this afternoon. He is on the look out for the little chickadee birds that love feeding out of our hands.

Here I am walking very quietly to really appreciate all of the silent beauty of this spot. I absolutely love hearing all the little birds chirping at every turn, the chipmunks and squirrels sitting still as I walk by, it is so unbelievable!!

 My son patiently waits with bird seeds that we purchased before heading out to the sanctuary. They have some at the Dollarstore for $1 a bag...what a great investment for such a beautiful experience. Priceless!!!

At one point, he had at least 10 birds going crazy for the seeds one after the other. He just stood there so still and the look and smile on his face was heart warming to a mother's eyes. Nothing like those little feet hanging off the edge of your fingers knowing deep down that your gift of life is truly appreciated by this little bird. What a feeling of joy!!! Life goes by too fast and we really need to stop and smell the roses, even in winter time...no more excuses!

If you have never experienced feeling this close to nature with your children it definitely  has to be something on your to do list this winter. If you get really lucky you can even get a glimpse of deer. They sometimes come very close to you if you stand very still. There is nothing like staring at them right in the eyes. It is unbelievable how close you can get to nature and how much you appreciate and respect the animals way of life. Life in the woods is so simple and peaceful. It really takes away any feeling of negativity and it rejuvenates your soul with positive vibes!!

Something really awesome at the sanctuary is that you can rent equipment for cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing on the week-end for $2 a person. They have wonderful equipment for all sizes and ages I believe. Now what can you buy for this amount of money today and have so many great benefits for your health at the same time.You get to take in your daily dose of vitamin D and come home with a great feeling of satisfaction and beautiful pictures to capture the special moments.

Enjoy the great outdoors, lead by example, show respect and love for nature that surrounds you and instill in your children memories that they will cherish forever. Most importantly, forget the electronics for one day and enjoy each others company instead!! Don't forget that the best things in life don't cost anything!!!

Stay healthy....Sylvie Thibert

My Favorite Pick Me Up Video...

This is one of my favorite pick me up videos...it is full of life and so much fun to watch...very original!!!

This wedding entrance got so much media attention that the couple even made it to the Good Morning America stage.....they got the chance to re-create the dance with the wedding party for the outdoor audience as well...unbelievable!!!!

The main thing is that this couple did it their way and that is what marriage is all about. This was their big day and special moment in life. It doesn't  have to be traditional, sometimes doing it another way will be remembered even more and talked about for years to come.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my nephew Scott and his new wife Jenn for surprising all of us and  doing it their way in Las Vegas on February 14th 2011....hugs and kisses xxxooo

Can't wait for the party!!!!

Enjoy!!!

Sylvie Thibert

Endless Benefits of Organic Coconut Oil....

The health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol levels, weight loss, increased immunity, proper digestion and metabolism, relief from kidney problems, heart diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, dental care and bone strength.

Hair Care: Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams.

Stress Relief: Coconut oil is very soothing and helps in removing stress. Applying coconut oil to the head followed with a gentle massage helps in removing mental fatigue.

Skin Care: Coconut oil is excellent massage oil for the skin as well. It acts as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin. The benefit of coconut oil on the skin is comparable to that of mineral oil. It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care.

Heart Diseases: There is a misconception spread among many people that coconut oil is not good for the heart. This is because it contains a large quantity of saturated fats. However, coconut oil is beneficial for the heart. It contains about 50% lauric acid, which helps in preventing various heart problems including high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

Weight Loss: Coconut oil is very useful in reducing weight. It contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight. It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems. Further, it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on the pancreas, burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight.

Digestion: Internal use of coconut oil occurs primarily as cooking oil. Coconut oil helps in improving the digestive system and thus prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome. The saturated fats present in coconut oil have anti microbial properties and help in dealing with various bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc., that cause indigestion.

Healing: When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.

Infections: Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its anti fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc..

Kidney: Coconut oil helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases. It also helps in dissolving kidney stones.

Diabetes: Coconut oil helps in controlling blood sugar, and improves the secretion of insulin. It also helps in effective utilization of blood glucose, thereby preventing and treating diabetes.

Bones: Coconut oil improves the ability of our body to absorb important minerals. These include calcium and magnesium which are necessary for development of bones. It is very useful to women who are prone to osteoporosis after middle age.

Dental Care: Calcium is an important element present in teeth. Since coconut oil facilitates absorption of calcium by the body, it helps in getting strong teeth. Coconut oil also stops tooth decay.

Finally, coconut oil is often preferred by athletes and by those who are dieting. The reason behind this being that coconut oil contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries. Coconut oil helps in boosting energy and endurance, and enhances the performance of athletes.

Click on the link below to see how amazing this product is at fighting colds..nature's gift....lets take advantage of it...

 http://www.naturalnews.com/031403_coconut_oil_colds.html

Stay healthy!!!

Sylvie Thibert

Family Day....

What a great holiday!! This is the best opportunity to celebrate a very special day with your loved ones and to let them know how much you love them!!
A child is a gift from above and we are very fortunate to have these individuals in our lives. They can brighten up our day with a simple smile, hug or even a simple "I love you!!". Now how magical and touching is that???
This is a day that allows us to spend the day together, laughing, playing board games, having a great meal together at the kitchen table, turning off the tv and electronic games for one day and re-discovering our children.
It doesn't have to be anything expensive just spending quality time enjoying each others company.The last thirty years or so we've seen mom's go into the work force, electronic games have become more and more elaborate, we've become a cell phone, Ipod, I-touch etc....society. We are so pre-occupied by Hotmail, MSN, Facebook, etc. Somewhere along the way we seemed to have forgotten the basics,we are slowly losing our social skills as well as our children. We need to lead the way by example.
More and more kids today are leading stressful lives with school, homework, jobs, sports, often going between two families etc.....its not as simple as when I was a kid...life seemed so simple back then, uncomplicated. We really need to try to go back to basics as families.
As adults we have to stand back and have a good look at our children, our future society and try to evaluate our parenting skills and what values that we are instilling in our kids lives.
Stop for one minute, look at your child and realize what a wonderful person is standing before you. They look up to the adults that surround them everyday and  they just need guidance, love and encouragement  to become responsible adults.

I hope that you all have an AMAZING family day!!! Take advantage of this day to realize how lucky you really are....hug your children and tell them that you love them.

Have a look at the next video, it will make you realize that life is truly short and you have to start making memories now with your children. They will only be small once, they grow up so fast and the next thing you know they are living their own lives....don't let another day pass you by without showing them how much they really matter to you!!!!

Stay healthy.....

Sylvie Thibert

A Mother's Love.....

The month of February has always been considered the month of love. It gives you that one special day of the year to celebrate those that you love in a special way. It makes you realize how lucky you are to have people in your life that surround you everyday and have special meaning to you. It gives you time to realize how great it is to have all of that love back in return as well.
At my house, on Valentine's day we usually have a nice special family candle lit supper and spend the evening together. Now that is all that I ask for...I don't need flowers, wine, special chocolates, diamonds to know that I am loved ....it is knowing that we are healthy and together that matters to me the most.
What makes me the happiest is a homemade card from my 12 year old son sealed with a kiss...now that's special and makes a lasting impression on my heart forever!! You can't put dollar signs on that right???
What better feeling than a hug and kiss from your child every morning??
It is magical how children always look up to mom's with such amazement when they know exactly what to do when they are hurt, are sad, have lost their favorite toy, are feeling under the weather and so on....mom's always know what to do...sometimes just a simple kiss will make everything better!!!
The following video is a beautiful example of the love we feel towards our children as mom's.... we have to stop and appreciate these gifts from heaven....

I know that I was very fortunate to have a wonderful mom that took very good care of all her ten children...I was her youngest and she always made me feel very special. My mom always gave everything that she could to make us feel happy and healthy. She always encouraged us and made us feel that we could accomplish anything that we wanted in life and to never give up on our dreams. My mom passed away at the age of 86 in 2007. She was an angel on earth, had such wonderful qualities and certainly I am a better person because of all the values and love that she gave to me daily. Thanks mom....love you!!!xxxooo

Happy Valentine's day and hug your loved ones......

Sylvie Thibert