'tis the season to be jolly!

Merry Christmas! 

It's been wonderful... I love the Christmas Spirit!

Here's my Christmas in pictures!

My gift to Dad

Cousin Amber and I meeting the REAL Santa.

 'tis the season for awesome sweaters.

Last minute Shopping at Walgreens

 Christmas on Sunday was awkward for everyone... we tried to make it as normal as possible

 Dad's Gift

 Struggling in the Wrapping Department

The sweetest Grandparents you'll ever know

 The married one

The married one and the husband

Christmas was a wonderful time... 

It always is.

I love my family.

Over & Out
Happy Holidays!

These are a few of my favorite things..

In my life I have come to know a few things. First, I have come to know that Julie Andrews is a SUPER nanny. 

(Eloise, Mary Poppins, Sound of Music...Yeah, the woman knows a thing or two). Another thing I have come to realize is the power that comes from finding joy in the little things in life. Things like "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens."

I believe that being positive is truly empowering. It enables you to turn even the gloomiest day around!


These are a few of my favorite things.

1. Christmas Scented Candles & a warm bath on cold winter days
2. Warm fuzzy slippers
3. The sound of rain

4. Laughing yourself to tears
5. A child sitting on your lap telling you a story
6. The laughter of three little girls
Gabi, Sophi & Ali are their names


Let me tell you a little story.

Once upon a time, there was a young teenager who loved babysitting. At the age of 12 she quickly realized the love that she had for children, and began getting little jobs around the neighborhood. A few years later she was asked to be a nanny for one of those families and there began her career. 

The girl grew up and went off to college. She missed that family dearly, and was sad that she was missing out on seeing them grow up.

Here they are now, a few short years later.


This past week I got to babysit these girls again for the first time in a long time. I think it is safe to say that I was consistently laughing myself to tears. 
Perhaps this video will give you a glimpse of why that is. 

I hope you noticed the sneezes?...Best parts.

"I mustache you a question..."

If you couldn't tell from the pictures and videos, these three girls are overflowing with talent and energy. I literally can't wait to see where their futures take them, I am blessed to be back in their lives again.

This second video is my sweet Ali, dancing her heart out in the NYCDA Salt Lake City Competition. She competed in October. She is 11 years old and won 1st place - high score soloist. 

She is such a beautiful dancer.

It's moments like these that make me so grateful for my life and the little things that fill it to the brim.

Heavy sighs & Goodbyes

The evenings have gotten quite cold,
I think that means winter is quick approaching.
I can almost smell the snowfall that will shortly be upon us.

Once again, tis the season of love, of giving, of charity. I feel very grateful for the wonderful things that have come into my life this year. The people, the opportunities, the trials.
They all combine to make a wonderful year.

In addition to the changing of season's and with the coming end of the year means the end of a semester.
A semester which was very much so a blessing.
I'm unaware of whether or not I have stumbled upon the topic of UVU yet, but that is where the majority of my thoughts are tonight.

The past semester I have been solely attending UVU for institute while I work and save up money. Tomorrow is my last day of class. The last day I will be taught by the two wonderful teachers I have been taught by all semester. The last day I have with two wonderful classes, filled to the brim with special people who have had a serious impact on my life.

I'm feeling a little sad. How to you tell so many people thank you for all the little things they have said and done? Man, I can't tell you what a profound influence these two classes have had on me. I'm not ready to say goodbye. Oh brother, how cheesy does that sound?

There's a guy in my first class who always says the most profound things, I find myself perking up at the sound of his voice. Simply because I know it will be legit. I'll miss him... and everyone else so much.

It is interesting how people come in an our lives like a blink of an eye... Sometimes it is those people who have the most lasting impression in our lives. I think that is the case here.

Anyways. No sob stories, just a little downheartedness about my last day tomorrow.
I wish I could tell them all how much they mean to me.

Goodnight bloggers... wish me luck with the weigh in tomorrow!

-Sydney

"I think I can, I think i can!"

Good Evening dear friends.

It's been a while. 

I promise I have an excuse,

A few of them actually.

November 22 - My dear sister got married (So clearly the days previous as well as the day of were insane.)

November 24 - Happy Thanksgiving... I am SORRY but I was off spending time with my family... you know - the loved ones. So Happy turkey day! Hope you all had as much to be grateful for as I do. As hard as life can be at times, we are all very very blessed.

Next, {Insert work here, there was a lot of it}

I've just been busy. 

Oh... I failed to mention my parents.

Yes, I love them.

I really do.

But when they fly out to Hawaii the Sunday after dear sisters wedding, and leave 3 siblings for me to care for...You start to go insane.

So basically...I am exhausted.

But weigh in day is tomorrow, and I think I am at least down a pound. Woot!

This journey gets more and more intense every week.

I feel like "the little engine that could."

Your mom ever read that to you?...

Here's a clip to explain what I mean.

(Man, everything was better in the 60's)

Moral of the story is... No matter how difficult a situation gets... Don't quit.

Keep telling yourself you CAN... and you WILL.
And then all at once you'll be standing at the top of that mountain, and - like the little Engine - you will be saying, "I THOUGHT I could!"

Goodnight

-Syd

PS.. Coming soon, "Confession Session," and "How I survived the Holiday"

Just a Jot... Or a Thought.

Sometimes all you need is someone to believe in you... even when you don't think you can believe in yourself. I am grateful for the people who support me... the ones who are there to encourage me, even when I'm not sure if I am cut out for the tasks that lie ahead of me.

Whether it be this weight-loss journey, or serving a full-time mission for my church... Both tasks have seemed very daunting to me at times, even now... I am grateful for all the support and love that keeps me going. It's good for me to think that I am not just doing these things for me. There is a greater purpose, a method to all the madness that I am grateful I am realizing now.

Decisions determine destiny.

I am grateful for the decision I made those few weeks ago to start this journey, because look at how far I have come!

I love you all!

Syd Tittle

Ready... Set... ACTION!

If you're a new reader, you probably don't know much about my word of the year.

A year ago in a communications class I was taking, we spoke about new years resolutions. My teacher spoke about choosing a specific word every year, and making it her "Theme" for the year as it were. 

I was inspired. Immediately, I began brainstorming the word which application was needed most in my life. 

After some time, I decided on a word and quickly began to implement it's definition in my day with the new year. And so the journey - in a way - began.

ac·tion

1.

the process or state of acting or of being active

2.

something done or performed; act; deed.

3.

an act that one consciously wills and that may be characterized by physical or mental activity: a crisis that demands action instead of debate; hoping for constructive action by the landlord.

4.

actions, habitual or usual acts; conduct: He is responsible for his actions.

5.

energetic activity: a man of action.

 

 

This is another secret to my success that I want to share with you today:

Have an attitude of action!

wake up EVERY day with the idea in your mind that today you will go out and do something good. Whether it be an act of service, or a brisk walk around the block.

"If you want to do it, all you have to do is DO IT!"

And THERE you go.

Thoughts on success and happiness

"Success doesn't bring happiness. Happiness brings success."

So often we look to the future with a "grass is always greener on the other side" type of attitude. At least I know I used to do that. But that is what is so great about this whole journey for me. I am FINALLY learning what it takes to find true success and happiness.

It feels like just yesterday I was letting those ideas creep into my mind:

-Once I get married, I will be happy.

-Once I finish college, I will be truly happy.

-As long as I pass this test, I will be a happy camper.

-Once I lose 30 pounds I will be happy.

If you are smiling right now, its probably because you can almost hear yourself saying something along these lines. So much of our lives, especially as women is focused on trying to be as "perfect" as possible. Perfect being a relative term, for who even knows what the REAL definition of it is. 

I have been approached by a few dear friends of mine who double as lovely blog readers. Both have questioned about my secrets of success. They inquired about how I keep going, how I stay motivated. In all honesty... that is a good question. A question that I have been pondering about for some time now. 

Here's the short answer. The one that I've found it all boils down to:

The secret to my success is staying positive. Its about not worrying so much about my success but focusing first (like in the quote I began with) on being happy and optimistic. There have been a few weeks where I have been so down...so inwardly focused. And those were the weeks where I did not find much success at all.

So step 1 that I will share with you today is:

-Stay Happy and Optimistic, It doesn't matter what happened yesterday or even 10 minutes ago. It's all about what you choose to do with your time right NOW.

I've said it before and I will say it again.

The time for change is Always, Always, ALWAYS right NOW. It wasn't this morning, it isn't last week. It is right now. Motivation is something that needs to be RE-APPLIED every single day of our lives. 

A funny quote that supports this is one that I got from a dear friend (and "adopted brother"'s) facebook page.

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily." Zig Ziglar

And there you go. 

More secrets to success will come in weeks following.

Keep up the good work!

Guess what?... I am the proud owner of a Planet Fitness Gym pass! This will be great for me to have in the cold winter months in Salt Lake City! I am very excited, my first gym pass EVER.

Don't I look FANTASTIC in the morning?

Anyways...

As always, I thank you for your continued love and support, you all help keep me re-focused and motivated every single day! 

I love and appreciate you!

If you have any questions at all feel free to comment! Eventually I will set up an email address specifically for this blog. I would love to address any questions, ideas or concerns in future posts.