because it would be un-american to not do a thanksgiving post

i feel somewhat obligated to do a thanksgiving post,

but mainly i would also feel like a selfish turd if i didn't do a quick list of what i'm thankful for.

i apologize only slightly for the sappiness that is below.

1. experiencing a new culture

it has been such an eye-opening journey to live in a foreign country.

i've done my fair share of moving around throughout my life

but living in a foreign country is an entirely new experience.

2. introspection

i didn't come to russia expecting to do all sorts of self-reflection.

but being here is exactly what i've needed to figure out life, what i believe, and where i stand.

3. skype

because then i can still see people's faces even when they are 5,000+ miles away.

4. great friends

i know so many wonderful people that have influenced my life in so many positive ways.

5. family saved the best for last

i couldn't even think of a proper adjective to put in front of the word family that would adequately sum up how i feel about my family.

i'll break it down in order to try to explain things properly.

dad: one of the hardest workers i know.

i feel like he is always going to school to get more degrees.

and i can't even finish one.

he would seriously go anywhere and do anything to make sure that we are provided for.

he has taught me so much about communication and healthy relationships and all sorts of really important shiz like that.

mom: as cliche as this may sound, she is one of my best friends.

and sadly, i haven't always been able to say that. 

sorry about those devil years of mine mom. oops.

but living at home this past semester was a lot of fun.

she is one of the most kind and charitable people i know and doesn't have a mean bone in her body.

plus she is tiny and adorable.

kels, jord, and bost: sorry guys, i decided to clump you guys all together.

your little family is just the cutest.

i aspire to someday be just like you guys.

bost, you are the cutest little chubbers and you're still my number one.

you have no idea how happy it makes me when you blow me kisses on skype.

and i can't wait to kiss your chubby little face soon!

jord, thank you for treating my sister so well.

i seriously could not have asked for a better brother in law.

i'm glad that we are actual friends.

kels, i don't know what i'd do without you.

like f'reals. you are always there for me to talk to.

you are such a wonderful mom and wife.

someday i will be cute and domestic and all of that like you.

but maybe not quite as tiny. curse you woman. curse you.

thanks to both of you for supporting me in everything.

tanner: such a solid kid.

someday i will be as righteous as him. he is seriously good to his core.

he is one of the most positive and compassionate people i know.

people are drawn to him because of his positivity and also hilariousness.

he seriously cracks me up.

he is one of my greatest examples.

whitty bit: a really fly gurrrl.

and also super solid.

we finally became friends recently.

i mean, we've always been friends. but we became real friends this past little bit.

she is so much fun. i don't think she realizes how fly she is.

i sometimes forget that she is my little sister, i usually just treat her like one of my friends.

she is also hilarious.

actually, know that we mention it, the whole fam damily is pretty funny i think.

maybe more on the slightly special side, but we'll just go with funny.

and also.

i don't know how i ended up with so many solid siblings.

probably the solid parents. i guess that would equate properly.

anyways, i love you guys.

and i'll stop now.

and since i'm in a black and white mood, here you go folks, here you go.

holla.

we are family, get up everybody and sing

before they headed off to belgium, the mac fam came to play.
it was so much fun to play with them and love on that cute little boston boy.

i'll tell you what.

i love my family.

ps. only THREE days until i'm in st. petersburg!
ready or not, here i come.

holla.

i am bad at blogging

i was originally going to title this "big 'a' post",

but i decided that would be borderline inappropriate. 

so now that i've informed you of the semi-sketchy title that i almost did,

it's time to overwhelm you with a boat load of photos summarizing my summer thus far.

{dragged whit along for a couple of roadtrips}

{went to some lovely weddings}

{spent some time at the cabin with the beardall clan}

{went to lunch with some of my most very favorite people on the planet}

 {got to babysit the cutest kids ever for 10 days}

 

{took some really darling photos with my friend trevor apple}

 

 {decided to take a day trip to vegas}

 

{saw hairspray at tuacahn}

well there you have it.

it's been a pretty good summer so far.

and i told you it was a boat load of pictures.

my goal is not wait ten years between posts so,

hopefully this won't happen again.

and i'll be pleasantly surprised if you actually looked at all 47.

holla.

dear mom: happy birthday

today is my wonderful mother's birthday.

and even though she's already asleep,
and there are only 12 minutes left of this day, 

i just feel like i needed to give a little public shout out/ thank you to her.

and i've been sitting here for a little while,
trying to find the words to describe my mom, 

and i just don't even know where to start.

so i think i'll just share a little snippet from the autobiography 

i wrote three years ago during my freshman year at snow:

"I love my Mom. I’ve already said is that she is seriously 'Super Mom'. She is the best Mom; she's exactly the kind of mother I need. 

She is amazing in every aspect and is probably one of the best role models I could have. She is so giving and loving to everybody. She doesn’t judge people, but is nice to every person she meets, no matter who they are. She is so selfless, and is constantly giving service, even if she doesn’t have the time. 


She is involved in all of our (her children's) lives in so many ways. She loves unconditionally. No matter what I have done or what bratty or awkward stage I have gone through, my mom is one of the only ones that has been there and will always be there for me. I know that for a fact.  

Also, my mom is always so in tune with the Spirit. She changes people’s lives. I do not even want to think of where I would be if it weren’t for my mom being in tune with the Spirit. Because of her faith, I am where I am today. 


Mom sacrifices so much for her family. She has worked so many jobs so that we can have enough to get by. She always makes sure that we have a good Christmas, good birthdays, etc. Despite her busy life, she makes sure the house is clean and that we have a good meal to eat... It makes me sad when people say that they don’t really have a good relationship with their mom, because I don’t know how they are able to make it without one. Mom is a constant support in my life. I love my mom so much. I aspire to be just like her. And even though I may not have ever told her this, my mom is one of my best friends."

and there you have it folks.

i sure do love my mom.

holla.

rexburg weekend

whit and i decided to roadtrip it to rexburg for 

easter weekend to spend some time with the mac family.

and i'll tell you what, i sure do love this family.

they are just the best.

and plus this guy is my favorite little man ever.

i could smoosh on those cheeks all day long.

now you want to smoosh=smooch+squish him too.

holla.

ps. check this blog out if you haven't already. i happen to love it!

pacific beach [2012]

i've decided to document my life more through film.

my first filming adventure was during our san diego trip a couple of weeks ago.
i really do love san diego. and i really will live there someday.

i also really do love my family. we have lots of good times together.

kels, jord, and bost: it wasn't the same without you! we missed you guys.

well folks, enjoy!

Pacific Beach [2012] from Sydney Gillman on Vimeo.

 holla.

oh. and if you're not following, 
feel free to click that little button guy over on the side.
hey thanks.

passions and san diego

i am a little bit in love with san diego.

we used to come here all the time when i was younger,
but it has been almost 10 years.

and in those 10 years i forgot how much i love the feel of this city.

i love it so much that i have in fact

added it to my list of places to live.

my list now looks a little something like this:

[1] russia [2] new york [3] san diego [4] seattle [5] boston [6] england 

also. there are about a trillion spring breakers here and 

it makes me want to rent a beach house on pacific beach next year with 

some of my most favorite people. 

so that is exactly what i plan to do.

plus. there are loads and loads of men here. 

the ratio of good-looking men to girls is about 6:1, 

so that's always a bonus.

being here has also reminded me of two things to add to my bucket list:

go sailing & jet-ski in the ocean.

and lastly, today we went for a five hour bike ride alongside the ocean.

and while biking this thought repeatedly came to mind:

"if what you're doing is not your passion, 

you have nothing to lose."

lately i have been feeling that i need to find something i'm passionate about.

i feel like everybody has that one thing that they cannot live without;

that one thing that defines and drives them.

so i'm on a hunt to find my passion and then do it.

because guess what folks? 

i've got nothing to lose.

this is maybe something i've already talked about.

so i apologize if that is so.

also. i feel like i've been having a lot of 

self-improvement-pep-talk-i-love-motivational-quotes-from-pinterest posts lately, 

so i apologize for that as well.

i'm all out of scattered thoughts and random apologies for now.

holla.

life via sheila.

so i decided to name my phone sheila.

it was a quick decision really, but it just felt right.

so the following are some moments that she has captured.

some are maybe not so recent, but i just felt like including them.

[1] acai bowls [2] i miss these girls [3] this guy is still my number one [4] mini golf  [5] lil' brudder [6] i have no social life so i read  [7] dance comps with mi madre [8] olive garden with my gurrrl

[1] once upon a time i had a bowl cut [2] i miss the ocean [3] hippie headband day [4] mini golf. what the yellow photo? [5] favorite treat at the moment [6] warmer weather is coming [7] i feel the need to re-visit seattle [8] seeing old friends is the best.

well i guess that's mostly it for now.

nothing too thrilling tonight.

but don't fret, i have some good post ideas up my sleeve.

holla.

in less than 24 hours i will be flying over the pacific ocean!

home: here i come!

family: get ready to play lots and lots.

wahoo wahoo wahoo!

holla.

top 10 reasons why i'm pumped to be home in only 6 days

[1] i get to see my family

[2] i get to eat my mom's food

[3] i can sleep in my own bed. and rain won't start pouring through the window in the middle of the night waking me up

[4] i miss the smell of my house

[5] there will be not one, but two legitimate christmas trees

among other decorations

[6] i can drive a car again

[7] i can do some christmas shopping

[8] i can wear cute boots, scarves, and hats again

[9] i won't break a sweat just walking around

[10] i will be done with finals, school, rent hassles, etc. 

praise the heavens

i'm so close!

holla.

i'll be home for christmas

so i've been singing this song everywhere lately...

in the shower. while riding my bike. in the kitchen.

it's probably because in only 12 days i will be on my flight home.

just being home with my family will be the best christmas gift ever.

because then i'll get to see these people that i love so much.

plus even more people that i love that i'm too lazy to find pictures of.

yay for almost christmas break!

now i just have to survive finals.

oh. and here's another fantastic tune.

i'm a little bit obsessed.

holla.