My Wish

To my future niece or nephew (who I will be meeting any day now)
~ This is my wish to you..lyrics by my fav Rascal Flatts (one must sing the song while reading):

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
and if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window,
if it's cold outside,
show the world the warmth of your smile,
but more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more then you take.

But more than anything, Yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

xo auntie erin
ps. Stunning & gorgeous pictures of the mom to be! See you on Christmas!

Eat Pray Love

At this moment I am reading "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. (One woman's search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia). The book is divided into three parts, each representing 4 months of Liz's experience in one of three countries. I have just finished "eat" where Liz fully immersed herself in Italy and what the culture as to offer...it was interesting to see Italy through the eyes of someone else and what they remembered about their moments. Just before putting the book down to take a break from reading and the sun, I thought I would read a couple pages of her first few days in India...and I can tell already this may be my favourite part of the book (I think its because I have already been to Italy and Indonesia...so to learn about India, a place I have always wanted to go to, is very intriguing...also because India seems to be the place where Yoga was born) Here is how a yoga instructor from India defines Yoga to Liz as (it totally hit home for me). Yoga is the effort to experience one's divinity personally and then to hold on to that experience forever. Yoga is about self mastery and the dedicated effort to haul your attention away from your endless brooding over the past and your nonstop worrying about the future so that you can seek, instead, a place of eternal presence from which you may regard yourself and your surroundings with poise. Only from that point of even-mindedness will the true nature of the world (and yourself) be revealed to you. (page 122....also goes into more detail). While reading that section I knew I had to share it with my friends..those who do practice yoga and those who don't but may be intrigued. Namaste ;)

Brookdale

So today was my last day of my placement at Brookdale P.S. For the past semester I have been observing and helping out with a grade 1/2 split class...and let me tell you they are the cutest bunch of kids! It seems so long ago when I first walked into the classroom and introduced myself. I wasn't really sure what to expect but as my first day went on and I felt genuinely welcomed, I knew that it was going to be a great experience. Of course there were some ups and downs and the kids definitely could challenge me...but once they knew I could get them all 'out' in dodgeball and was able to help them create all their art projects that I was 'ok' to stick around! Today they all presented me with hand made cards and told me how much I was going to be missed! Some even said that I had to come back when I was done school to be their teacher next year. So cute! At times like today (& actually most days) I am over joyed with the decision I made to become a teacher!

Dear: Mrs Burlein, Edward, Quinn, Abby, Emma, Koby, Brandon, Ryne, Jinisha, Katherine, Sarah, Spencer, Dyvia, Rachel, Bethany, Cleo, Kelson, & Jessica,

Thank you for the memories!

xo Miss Bryce

ps. Yesterday was my dad's birthday! happy birthday dad! xo

Kris Kringle

Peace.

It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

(quote from part of my pressie!)

Thanks for dinner girls! As always so amazing!

Table Topics

I am always fascinated by unique questions, questions that aren't necessarily asked in our every day life...questions that we don't really ask each other, but when they come up in surveys or games we tend to have a laugh. So when I opened my Christmas gift from Steph this evening I was pleasantly surprised and very excited (as I have been eyeing it) to get the coffee table game "Questions: Girls night out"!
Here is the scoop: GIRLS NIGHT OUT TOPICS
You already know how easy it is to have fun with the girls on a girls night out. Now make the experience even more memorable using these conversation starters for women. Girls night out questions range from hilarious to thought-provoking, guaranteeing an entertaining evening for everyone. You never know what you’ll find out about your closest friends!
If you had to gain 10 pounds what would you eat to gain the weight?
What would the "perfect" man be like?
What was the worst hairstyle you ever had?
What's your favorite chick flick?
What's your most meaningful family heirloom?
What's your most favourite pair of shoes you've ever owned?
How has your life turned out differently than you thought it would?
and so on...It also comes in different themes such as: family, spirit, books, couples and more. I highly recommend it to anyone who is intrigued by finding out more about your friends and family! Thank you Steph!!

Let Yourself Be Who You Are

It's difficult to be around people who are trying to be perfect - perfectly healthy, perfectly polite, perfectly poised, perfectly controlled.
Remember that being human means being imperfect, being flawed. Let yourself be. Let others be. Slouch in your chair. Eat with the wrong fork. Laugh out loud. Stand up and reveal who you are and know that you're good enough.
Stop worrying that people will find out who you really are. Instead, hope they do. Help them by openly sharing yourself and being not who you think you should be, but who you really are.

Freedom is just a small step away - a step into self love and acceptance. When you take it, others will follow. And they'll be grateful you led the way.
~Journey to the Heart

procrastinating...

As I prepare for the week ahead, I can't help but to procrastinate and find everything and anything else to do besides open a book or write my essays. I have 3 exams this week and several assignments due Friday but yet seeing as I am a stress-free person when it comes to work (life is what I seem to stress over) I can't seem to bring myself to start! Seriously!! I cant bring myself to start the process...yesterday I went and got my hair done, had a loong work out, went and got some Thai food...then started to finish the baby hoodie i am knitting and then started to watch re-runs of friends and sex and the city...i think at one point I was even just staring off into space! ahhh! and today as continued into the same sort of mind set...I woke up early went to Yoga, did some grocery shopping at wholefoods (only went there because of all the samples they have on the weekend), to then come home to make a shake, have a long shower making sure to deep condition my hair, and give myself a facial...and now here I am and I still cannot put pen to paper! (fingers to keys). Hmm maybe I should go for a walk into town to get a tazo chai..maybe that will get me going? Maybe a little later!
Hmm what else? ...if I stop writing then i have to study ;) ! ha ha! I should get going, but will probably be posting later, ya never know!
ps. Heather also got me hooked on http://www.freerice.com/ (posted on 'My Two Pennies'). It is not helping my situation much, but it is very addicting! Everyone should give it a try. Heather got to 40 pts, I have only made it to 36 (only once too). K later skaters!

My '411' from the weekend

Have you ever been so tired that your thoughts start to blurr and you aren't able to even see straight?!? Well yesterday I showed all the signs and symptoms of a person being 'burnt' out...and it has carried over to today as well. This weekend was a power packed weekend of activities! Friday night Steph and I went to Yoga and then to see Enchanted at the theatres (totally recommend it...uber cute!) Saturday was started off with some yoga (challenging class) and then sandwich making all day in preparation for Sunday. In the evening I headed into Toronto to attend Tate and Cindy's wedding (first picking up Kim& Rich followed by Christina - she was my fab date for the night) Wedding was very special, and of course there were a couple tears...I am a sapper for speeches! Cindy's twin sister said the most memorable and relatable speech (at least to me)...Tate's dad also had a great speech! The wedding was held in the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery - very unique! At 1:30 I decided that it was time to head out, but with lack of windows we all were unaware of the blizzard that was happening outside and the lack or should I say "no taxi situation" we were all stranded there...and seeing as all the furniture, lighting, tables etc were rented, at 2am the couches we were all sitting on as we were waiting for taxi's were being taken out from right under us....some even resorted to lying on the carpets...until those were also taken from under us. Kim then called her mom in Mississauga to come and save us and take us home. So at 4:30 I strolled into the house, after a long drive! Nightmare of a night! My alarm (my mother) then woke me up at 8:30am where we continued to make sandwiches and prepare for Jodie's Baby shower. I am getting tired writing all of this down...but it was a great shower, amazing gifts, lots of friends, great nibblies (especially the sandwiches!) and Jodie looked great! So crazy to think I will be an Aunt in less than a month, and Jodie will be a mom! Super happy for her (and for the 1/3 of the guest who to0 are also pregnant!) "Pink or Blue, we welcome you!"
Ps. The picture of the lil one is Bailey O'Regan (Sarah and Jake's little girl)

Enough procrastinating I need to get working on my essay! Did I mention things are nutso busy with school....ahhh! 2 more weeks!