Once Upon a Wedding
  • Home
  • My Story
  • Reviews
  • Inspiration
  • News

Micro Weddings at Black Oak Mountain Vineyards

6/26/2020

0 Comments

 
On June 17, 2020 I had the privilege of meeting and working with a fantastic group of wedding professionals on a styled shoot at the majestic Black Oak Mountain Vineyards, also know as the “Malibu Rocky Oaks of the North”.  I was invited by Mandy of Black Oak Mountain Vineyards in Cool, CA to join the styled shoot planned and coordinated by Shaquarrius Calloway Events. I later learned that the even was going to be featured on Good day Sacramento...wha?! OK!! 
Then , as if things couldn't get any cooler (see what I did there, lol) it turned out we were all being listed as the go-to vendors for the venue's full-service, Stress-Free Wedding package! You've got to be kidding me! 
So I now present, the Full-Service Wedding Crew for Black Oak Mountain Vineyards! These guys are top-notch and I highly recommend them!
Venue | Black Oak Mountain Vineyards
@blackoakmountainvineyards

Planning & Coordination | Shaquarrius Calloway Events
@shaqcalevents

Florist | Inspirations by Gina
@inspirationsbygina 

Caterer | Chef Juan Catering Kitchen
@chefjuancateringkitchen 

Cupcakes/Dry Hire Trailer | Sugar Coated Cupcakes
@sugarcoated_cupcakes 

Rentals | Celebrations Party Rentals
@celebrationspartyrentals

Gown & Tux | Second Summer Bride Sacramento
@secondsummerbridesac

Photography | Courtland Photography
@courtlandphotographyllc

Videographer | Hapa Films
@hapafilms.weddings  

Hair & Makeup | MM Beauty
@mmbeauty_sacramento 

Officiant | Once Upon A Wedding
@once.upon.a.wedding

Teeth Whitening | Bronze 365
​
@bronze_365

Model | Cheyenne Summerville 
@cheyennesummerville

Model | Erik Pullman
@michaelerikpullmann

Model | Cheyanne C
@cheyanne_c
0 Comments

All the Positivity!

6/15/2020

0 Comments

 

Last week I told you about how much I love to journal and listed to inspiring podcasts like 7 Good Minutes. I listen to one episode just about every morning and have been doing so since August 2019. I crave the positive messages and the motivation I get from all the remarkable leaders and speakers!

Picture

During a recent episode, I was reminded that my first reactions to things aren't necessarily the right or appropriate reactions. We've all done this. Maybe you're driving down the street when all of a sudden someone cuts you off and beats you through the yellow light, leaving you stuck now at the red light. What a jerk, right?!

Maybe. Maybe not. I do this all the time. My first reaction is always negative. I don't want it to be. In fact, if I could consciously choose my response, I would be more understanding. I might think of all the possible reasons for why this person felt the need to speed up and pass me and get through the light faster than me. I might decide that it actually has nothing to do with me at all. I might even hope nothing's wrong and send some positive vibes their way!

In the 7 Good Minutes podcast #886 "Using the Power of Positivity to Guide Your Daily Actions", Mel Robbins shares with us that we operate on a "default network" 43% of the time. It's here that we're just running on autopilot, like driving on the freeway and not remembering part of your trip. It operates on past knowledge of the world - the script we wrote for ourselves, or that our providers wrote for us at a young age. 
​

Well that sucks! Guess I am the way that I am and that's just how it is, right? 
​

Picture

Not even! We can be intentional. Mindfulness is the practice defined in Oxford Languages as "a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations..." When we choose to be mindful of ourselves, we can do all sorts of new things. 

Mel uses the example of teaching yourself to write with your non-dominant hand. At first, we would unconsciously pick the pen up with our dominant hand. That doesn't mean we're doomed to write only with that hand. In fact, we can learn to write clearly and comfortably with the other, but only if we choose to move the pen to the other hand.

It's going to be uncomfortable. It won't feel natural. Everything inside of us is going to tell us to stop and just go back to the way that we know.

​Let's not. Let's push past it. Let's conquer our selves!

Picture
I sure hope you have a nice week ahead and remember to give yourself grace, be patient with others, and spread love always.
Picture
Picture
I would love to hear your thoughts on this. 
What do you think about mindfulness and how could you apply that for a better life?
Leave a comment below!

“Don't be pushed by problems, be led by dreams.” 
- Clyde Lee Dennis
Listen to the 7 Good Minutes podcast "Using the Power of Positivity to Guide Your Daily Actions"
0 Comments

Feeling so grateful right now!

6/7/2020

0 Comments

 
It's important to me to start every day in gratitude by taking a few minutes for myself each morning, before I put on any of the other hats that moms wear throughout the day. Each morning before the baby wakes up I spend some time quietly enjoying my cup of coffee, writing in my Tom Ferry Gratitude Journal, and take notes on an episode of the 7 Good Minutes podcast. I tend to write about a page per episode, but one last week with Tony Robbins called "How To Make A Life-Changing Decision: 5 Fundamentals That Aren’t Being Taught Anywhere", really had me inspired and I wrote over three pages! 

The message was so powerful and so relatable with everything going on in the world that I felt pulled to share it with you guys. 

If you don't know who Tony Robbins is, he's a an energetic and inspiring motivational speaker, philanthropist, and life coach who's impacted millions of lives with his talks on overcoming fear and uncertainty to live your life in a "beautiful state". He has a great message that addresses all of the chaos and turmoil our country is experiencing right now. You can hear him share his thoughts on how we can all benefit from being "conscious of your power and remind yourself and all those around you the human race is resilient, flexible, and strong beyond imagination" and you can read that here.
Picture

In this episode, Tony calls attention to a new way of looking at what we experience. Rather than focusing on what is happening us, he wants to challenge us to look at the meaning behind what's happening. He's says, "Do not try to change what happened. Instead, figure out what you’re going to do with it...When you come up with a new meaning, you get a new life." What does this mean for you in your life right now?

Tony believes if we choose what we focus on, decide what it really means, and then choose what to do about it, we can use our power of choice to make real and long-lasting changes that everyone can enjoy.

This really resonated with me! I believe we're all able to influence our destiny and that the decisions we make everyday can and will directly affect that future. Like Tony, I also believe that our Power of Choice is the number one force that will control the quality of our lives. It's not what happens to us that matters, but what we do with it that matters.

I think no matter your spiritual or religious beliefs, we might all agree that decisions are powerful tools. We can shape our own reality and, because we are connected with everything and everyone around us, our decisions influence those around us. Not making a decision is as powerful as making one. I know that if I take that power for granted and don't make decisions responsibly, I can will have a negative impact on not just myself, but also the friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and my  community.

There are a lot of things happening right now and many different ways that we can perceive them. There are various motives for people's actions and reactions and everyone seems to have an opinion on why it's happening and who's at fault. There is no doubt a very complex and deeply rooted issue and there is no easy way to navigate through this. Our unique life experiences become the story we have about how life is (for everyone else as well) and becomes our reference for explaining the world around us. "This understanding of the condition is unique to you and therefor not appropriate for providing a solution that will work for everyone."

In my very humble opinion, we can change the world by taking this responsibility more seriously and considering what to focus on (love), what things mean, and being the individual drivers of change on the conditions to make the world a better place. I teach my children that the most important things in life are love, kindness, and self-respect. I believe we can limit and heal many of society's issues if we focus on our values and work within what we can control - ourselves.
Picture
I don't ever want to come off like I have the answers to life's challenges, but I will always feel pulled to share what I'm learning on my life's journey that may, or may not, be helpful for the people I love and care about. 

Like Tony says, "Is this the end right now, or the beginning?...If you want to change anything in your life, you have to change yourself first." I am so grateful to have access to these and other resources that challenge me to think outside of my personal story and so I can nurture and design my own story!
Picture
Picture
I would love to hear your thoughts on this. 
What do you think is most important in life?
Leave a comment below!


“First we make our decision, then our decision makes us.” ​
- Clyde Lee Dennis
Listen to the 7 Good Minutes podcast "How To Make A Life-Changing Decision: 5 Fundamentals That Aren’t Being Taught Anywhere".
0 Comments

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    June 2020

    Categories

    All
    Gratitude
    Mindfulness

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • My Story
  • Reviews
  • Inspiration
  • News