Cindie Wilding Celebrate Everyday

Location with Heart

As a Celebrant, I consider myself a story teller.  I love getting to know who people are, what makes them tick, what makes them come alive, their purpose and goals in life.  This is what gives my ceremonies personality, whether it’s a wedding, a memorial or other type of life passage, I’m telling the story.  So I decided I’d like to also tell the story of some of the vendors I have the pleasure to work with.  Who are they?  How did they come to do this work?  What do they love about it?  Occasionally I’ll be showcasing a wedding vendor for a fun look at the people behind the scenes. 

There are many wonderful venues for getting married in the greater Sacramento area.  Part of my fun as a Celebrant is getting to check out all the different venues as I perform weddings, and getting to know the owners. 

So I begin with a beautiful wedding location where I have had the pleasure of performing a couple of weddings with a couple more slated for later this year -- the Monte Verde Inn.  This beautiful old inn, built in 1923, is all inclusive, meaning not only do you get a beautiful place for the wedding, but its owners are the onsite chefs and cake bakers. 

Kelly and Douglas Dalisa bought the Monte Verde Inn about 7 years ago.  The beautiful mountainous location in Forresthill, California had a special place in their hearts as they had been married there several years prior.  Both Kelly and Doug had a background in the restaurant industry for many years – Kelly teaching culinary arts and restaurant management and Doug as a Chef in the bay area for many years, working everywhere from country clubs to fine dinning establishments. 

When they discovered the Inn was for sale, they jumped at the chance to re-vitalize it and create a place where you could not only marry (indoors or out), but have your reception  food and wedding cake done there as well.  Kelly set about to learn cake decorating with an intensive workshop through the Culinary Institute of America and she now creates the most gorgeous wedding cakes.  Presto, many of the bride’s concerns handled right there on the spot!

Here is just one of the many gorgeous cakes she creates, each one totally unique and different, each one made with that bride and groom in mind.

What sets the Monte Verde Inn apart from other locations is the fact that everything is custom done, not factory.  Kelly is conscientious about the personal connection she establishes with every client, making sure every detail is attended to.  Customer service is not just a motto but a way of life for her.  Kelly is also quite proud that Monte Verde Inn is featured in Style Me Pretty, a pretty fine accomplishment, considering inclusion is by invitation only.  

When I asked Kelly what she liked best about her job, she said it’s the end result – having pleased and happy clients and the opportunity to witness all their hard work come to beautiful fruition with a very happy couple. 

You can check out the Monte Verde Inn website here.      

Celebrating 50 and Beyond - Imagine the Possibilities

 

Your wings already exist.  All you have to do is FLY

Growing older has many consequences -- some of which are annoying and frustrating (why must have I so much hair on my body to remove?), some of which are painful (it hurts my knees to run) and some of which are distressing or perplexing because we suddenly find ourselves at a place in our lives where we did not suspect we would be.  

Particularly as women, I think we tend to live our lives for others, with the thought that someday there would be time for us, we would do what we want, we would live our life for us.  I have known so many women including myself, who reached a certain age and realized life was becoming short, time was running out, and is this how the last quarter of my life will be spent?  It's not that we aren't happy, but perhaps because of circumstances beyond our control, we find ourselves reinventing our lives and it's going completely differently than ever expected. 

Having experienced this myself (a few times), I am mindful of how helpful and supportive it can be to have a venue for exploring this time of our lives -- how far we have come and what we have accomplished as well as consciously planning where we will go from here.  

I don't know about you, but I have lots of plans of things I still want to do -- my ever present "bucket list" if you will and I find myself giddy with all there is to experience.  I want to come alive on a regular basis and feel excitement and passion for my life.

What I have in mind, is a Saturday for YOU, a day spent in the loveliest of suburban settings with a group of other women.  Together we'll explore:

• our personal values and how clarity around them will assist your daily choices
• your dreams -- what do you long to still experience in life?
• your personal Mission Statement - what better way to be clear on where you are going than to create the map?
• plus time to write and share together (oh how us women love to talk and share)

Will this be fun?  Absolutely!  I have fun and creative activities for exploring, circle time with (optional of course) sharing and time to journal and reflect solo in a beautiful garden setting.  

"Let go of the life you planned, so you can find the life that is waiting for you."  ~ Joseph Campbell

Who would like to attend?  

• If you are a woman ~ the age of 50 and up and you have or are experiencing a life change that feels like a re-invention of your life and you'd like to explore where to go next.  
• If you've never been on a Women's Retreat and you are curious about it
• If you've been on retreat, with me or another and loved it -- each experience is totally different as you start where you are.
• Exploring yourself in a women's retreat gives validation and voice to your feelings and experience.  

All the details:

April 7, 2012 * Saturday * 10:00 am - 4:00 pm * 5553 Butano, Rocklin * $60 (includes all activities and supplies for art fun'nin, morning beverages, lunch and afternoon snack)

Sign up here:  http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/233535

I have 4 spots left.  Would be my pleasure to have you join me.  

Out With The Old, In With The New

Image courtesy of Snowflakes & Snow Crystals

I love this time of year, the quiet, peaceful time between Christmas and New Years when the world seems more pensive, reflective, slowed down.  The hurried pace is gone and Christmas is a fond memory of family and friends, presents given and received, good food, good company.  This time of year feels quiet to me, like the quiet of snowfall.  I don't live in snow now, but did as a child.  I remember those fresh snow days and how quiet everything felt.  It's such a perfect time of year to allow that quiet to guide me in taking time for me, taking time to look back at one year and look forward to the next.

This weekend I'm carving out time, journal and kitty in my lap, hot beverage at my side; reflecting on the highlights from 2011 and my goals and aspirations for 2012.  

Here are a few of them:

2011 Highlights:

• met so many fun and sweet couples this year and had so much fun getting to know them, creating their unique wedding ceremonies and sharing their special wedding day with them
  
• amazing art and yoga solo retreat in Puerta Vallarta - explored my inner artist
• sweetie embraced vegetarian lifestyle (up side to heart attack/bypass surgery); I now call myself an aspiring vegan
• enjoyed the pleasure of performing my first memorial service, a complete honor. Very much looking forward to expanding this part of my business
• loved working with teens in a rite of passage program as they embraced a special time in their lives
• began my 'pre-marital coaching' program which I'm finding a real treat and an opportunity to get to know my couples even better
• several long weekend trips to Santa Barbara (with my kids), Clear Lake (winery tours with girlfriend) and Tahoe (performed 10 yr recommitment ceremony & led a workshop on Love Languages)

2012 Intentions and Aspirations

• trip to NYC for fun and frolic with dear coaching buddy friend I've not yet met
• appearance on Bliss Radio in June, being interviewed about Relationships
• more fabulous wedding ceremonies...continue to get to know my couples and tell their wonderful love story in a way that makes them say "YES!"
• continue to find ways to Give Back and Make a Difference:  Adopt a Turkey again at Thanksgiving, give to animal shelters and sanctuaries, begin working with hospice to lend support to the dying and their families
• continue to grow myself personally, spiritually, physically which means scheduled time for creativity, quiet reflection and my outdoor/run time and yoga time
• lead inspiring women's retreat April 7 ("Oh my gosh I'm over 50, what's happened to me?")
• attend Wanderlust and improve my 'bendi-ness'!
• despite how much my planning mind wants to plan, Enjoy The Present Moment

Thank you for being a part of my life in 2011.  I look forward to connecting with you in 2012.  Celebrate the tiny moments of your life.  Release what you no longer need and embrace the possibilities that await you in 2012.  Create your own New Years ritual with personal meaning.  Light a candle.  Say a prayer.  Offer gratitude.  

Happy, happy New Year!